Hey Everybody! Thank you so much for your awesome input last week! I really appreciate it and am doing my best to reply to all the reviews I got. If you haven't heard back from me, please still review this chapter, and I'll get to yours as soon as possible.
Before you read, I need to inform y'all that I still have some dedicated readers working on fanart, but I have put up some of the work they've done on a newly-created Photobucket account. Also, for those of you who've wondered just how handsome and awesome you're beloved author is, I have a picture of myself on the account! So check it out. The link can be found on my profile page.
One more thing. Last chapter was bloody. Seriously. I got so many angry letter both in the form of private messages and actually reviews that it was a little disheartening. The truth is, I'm sorry if the story's moving a little slow, but it kind of has to. We've had a decent amount of action in it thus far, and there's much more to come, but for now you kind of have to bear with me as we progress through the plot. I love writing action (much more than dialogue, haha), but the story won't work without an actual, you know, story. However, for those who said I didn't properly describe a contest, I understand that the traditional contests on the show were not as described in last chapter. Despite this, there's never been a doubles contest in the show either (I invented it), so I think that a few of the creative liberties I took were justified.
However, despite my defenses for last chapter, I have to admit that everyone was right to be upset. The chapter came a week late (unlike this one! Right on time!), and frankly I didn't give it 100% because of everything going on. I'm truly sorry to everyone who felt let down after the last installment, and I hope that this chapter, which is truly a great one in my opinion, will reinvigorate your confidence in me as your author.
That being said, read and REVIEW!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, or any of its affiliated companies including, but not limited to, 4Kids, The Pokemon Company, Game Freaks, or Cartoon Network. The characters written within this fic are soley based upon the fictional characters created by these companies, and the story is not meant to, nor will it, receive any monetary funding.
Characters' Ages:
Ash: 17
Brock: 22
Misty: 18
Delia: 41
Oak: 56
"Wow, Ash. I never thought I'd see you put on make-up," Misty teased from behind the champion as one of the show workers finished sprucing the young man up for television. "I guess you're more vain than I gave you credit for. I have some lipstick if you'd like to borrow it. Is cherry red your color?"
He turned around and gave her a scowl. "I told them I didn't wanna, but they said I was too pale for TV."
Misty laughed. "Well you are a pretty pale guy, Ash."
"Are you kidding me? I spend all day out in the sun training and catching Pokémon. Look at you!" He picked up her hand. "I think all the time you spent inside the gym turned you into a ghost!"
"Hey!" Misty withdrew her hand defensively and momentarily looked like she was about to slap her friend. "I'm naturally pale, but that's attractive on women!"
"Says who?"
"Says you. You're the one who's told me I look beautiful like every day, so there!" She stuck out her tongue at him, and he angrily stomped his foot on the cement floor. He knew he'd regret being nice to her.
"Well anyway, I'm not really pale."
"Are you guys almost ready for your big daytime talk show debut?" May asked, entering the dressing room with her boyfriend, and diffusing yet another fight.
"Nice make-up, Ash." Drew teased, resisting the urge to crack up. Pikachu was on his shoulder, and it appeared to Ash as if he too wanted to laugh aloud.
Whose side is he on?
Normally, he wouldn't have been ready, but after catching Drew in their bathroom the other day, he'd perfected the ultimate comeback. "Ha, ha, Drew. That was a good one. Oh, by the way, nice hair. How often do you have to dye it to keep it so green?"
Narrowing his eyes, the coordinator silently conceded. Fortunately for him, though, Ash didn't rub it in, but rather opted to let it go. The two had instantly recovered from the bad blood they'd developed before the contest and had almost become a team against their girlfriends who, surprisingly, seemed to have become even closer over their travels the last month. A silent camaraderie had slowly bloomed, and Ash didn't wish to end it over hair and make-up…especially if he needed back-up in an argument against Misty.
As the two boys proceeded to talk, May turned her attention to Misty. "This is so cool that you're getting to talk with Lila Reese! She's one of the biggest T.V. stars of all time!" she exclaimed for what felt to Misty like the hundredth time that day. "You know that her show's broadcast in all four western regions, right? I hear they're even getting it to Orre soon! It was smart of you to pick her show."
"Thanks May, but actually I didn't pick her show." Misty informed. "Dawn did."
"Oh! Well then good for Dawn! Either way, it was a really smart move. Everyone watches her show."
"You just watch it for the gossip," Drew reminded pointedly. "All this woman ever does is try to create some big scandal with her guests. She twists their words all around."
May looked angrily at her boyfriend. "It's not just gossip. A lot of her shows are very informative! Besides, if you don't like it, then why do you always sit there and watch it with me? Huh?"
The coordinator blushed slightly, but stood firm, insisting he only watched because there was nothing to do. "It's not like I make a habit of it or anything." He looked at Ash. "She's just excited because she's a fan, but I still think this is a bad idea. She seems like a real jerk."
"She is not."
He rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, May."
"Don't patronize me!"
"What are you talking about? I just told you that you were right!"
"You only said it because you wanted me to be quiet. I don't want to hear you say I was right unless you believe it."
As they continued their small squabble, Misty looked at Ash.
"Speaking of Dawn, where is she?" she questioned, realizing she hadn't seen her since they'd entered the studio.
The question actually managed to quiet the feuding couple beside them.
"You know, that's a good question. I saw her go to her dressing room, but that was like two hours ago! Not even Dawn pays that much attention to her make-up."
"I don't think she's left her room yet. Maybe she's just getting ready for the interview."
Ash looked at the clock. "We've only got a few minutes. I'm gonna look for her."
"Don't be late!" Misty warned as he got up. "Knowing you, you'll get lost and miss the show!"
He smiled. "Lost? When have I ever been lost?"
However, before she could answer, he ran out the door and down the hallway, snickering. As he continued down the area backstage, he passed by a crew member whom he decided to ask about Dawn's whereabouts.
"She's just in the other dressing room," the man responded, pointing to a door with "guest" imprinted upon it. "I'd figure she's getting ready for the show."
Still?
Tentatively, Ash knocked on the door.
"Yes?"
"Dawn? It's Ash. I was just wondering if you wanted to come in my room and hang out with the rest of us? We're pretty much just arguing, but it would probably still be more fun than hanging out here by yourself."
"One sec." The door unlocked and Dawn appeared, smiling up at the trainer. "Hey Ash, come on in." She let the champion walk in before closing the door behind him.
"So are you ready for the interview?"
He looked down at his new suit and shrugged. "I guess. I think we've practiced all of our lines, so it shouldn't be that hard."
"Yeah. I hope it's quick."
Ash sat on a small couch in the room and looked up. "Yeah, I don't like having to sit and talk for too long. Especially with everyone listening. That's why I haven't done any T.V. interviews before now, actually. It just seems like too much trouble."
"Uh-huh." She plopped down next to him.
Ash raised his eyebrows. Something wasn't right with his friend, and he could tell by the way she was slouching next to him that she was upset about something.
"Are you feeling okay Dawn?"
"Huh? Why would you ask that?"
"Because you keep looking down, and your eyes are a little red." Though it was hard to tell, upon closer inspection he thought she appeared as if she'd been crying.
"I'm fine, Ash."
He squinted. "No you're not. What's the matter? Isn't this what you wanted?"
She took a moment before letting out a slow breath. "Well, the truth is that I don't know what's the matter. I've been having a great time with you guys the last few weeks, and even Misty and I have been getting along like we used to, but for some reason I just started crying earlier."
"And you don't know why?"
She shook her head.
"That's kinda weird," he noted quietly, more to himself.
"Gee, thanks."
"No, I didn't mean to sound mean or anything. I just never heard of someone crying and not knowing why."
Dawn shrugged. "I just felt like it, I guess." Seeing his still-questioning face, she forced herself to elaborate. "I feel kinda depressed about how everything is going, I guess. I mean, I think I'm still getting over my feelings for you, and now I have to go on T.V. and act like I never loved you at all while I still kinda do. It's just really emotional. You know how it is."
Ash nodded in false understanding. Truthfully, he had no idea what the young woman was going through, but he did know she didn't need to hear that. "You still want to do the interview though, right?"
"Yeah, definitely!" she earnestly responded. "It'll be hard, but at least people will stop looking at me like I'm the unlucky third wheel. That'll take care of at least one problem."
Ash put his arm around her, and for a brief second she wished he'd lean upon her as she'd seen him do with Misty so many times in the last few weeks. However, the thought of Misty dashed those hopes instantly, and a pang of guilt replaced them.
"I really am sorry for making you like me," he apologized awkwardly. He knew it sounded stupid, but there was no better phrasing he could create, and saying something was definitely preferable to nothing in this situation. The blue-haired coordinator looked up and smiled at him.
"You couldn't help it Ash. It's like you said, we can't resist who we end up liking."
He smiled back. "You're right. And if it makes you feel any better, I don't think you missed out on much. Don't tell Misty I said this…but I'm actually really bad with directions and maps."
Dawn laughed a little and agreed.
"Also, I'm pretty clueless about how people feel a lot of the time, and outside of Pokémon battling, I'm not really that smart. You'll end up finding someone much better who likes you just as much as you like them, and then you'll have exactly what me and Misty have…except maybe with a few less bruises since you're nicer."
Dawn laughed some more. "I really have had a great time with you guys. I almost wish I didn't have to leave."
"You could still travel with us, Dawn," Ash offered once again. "We'd love to have you with us. Like you said, everything's back to normal so you wouldn't need to worry about it being awkward."
Her smile disappeared as she shook her head. "I actually can't. I've already taken almost a month off from my contest challenges in Johto. The Grand Festival is only a few months away, and I really can't afford any more time off."
"How many more ribbons do you need?"
She blushed slightly and pushed a strand of lose hair behind her ear. "Um, actually, three."
"You've only gotten two so far?"
"Hehe, uh, yeah. Things have been kinda dramatic recently, so me and my team haven't been working as hard as we normally do."
"I guess you really do need to get back to Johto then."
"Yep! I actually have a plane leaving tomorrow to bring me to Olivine."
"Yeah, I remember you telling us about that yesterday," he recollected.
A knock on the door interrupted the small talk, and Dawn bid the visitor in. It was the same crew member Ash had talked to earlier. "Um, we're five minutes from show time. We need everyone in their seats and ready."
"Here we go." Ash stood up and waited for Dawn. "You remember all of your lines?"
She rolled her eyes. "It's not exactly a play, but yeah, I remember the story."
He shot her a grin which melted her heart a little even after all that had happened. "Perfect. Then let's do it!"
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"So we're sitting down today for what absolutely must be the biggest interview of the year," Lila began excitedly as the crowd clapped in agreement and the introductory music died down. "We have with us this evening not only the Pokémon Champion of Sinnoh, Ash Ketchum, but also his girlfriend and former flame up on the set as well!"
Several in the audience, which Ash noted was entirely populated by women, hollered with amazing gusto at the mention of Dawn and Misty.
"Um, well not exactly," Ash interjected from the black leather couch seated across from the talk show host. He, Misty, and Dawn had agreed to do this show to clear up speculation about his and Dawn's relationship, and the last thing he needed was to add fuel to the fire. "I mean, we're actually just friends."
The pale middle-aged woman gave the young man a wink. "Of course you are…now."
As if directed, the audience let out a series of "ooh"s and "ah"s. Ash gave them a slightly incredulous glance before turning back to the host.
"No, really. We were never anything more than that."
"Then how would you be able to explain this little scene?" She pointed to a large screen behind the set which suddenly flickered to life, showing the end of the battle and Dawn's kiss. The audience, without hesitation, reacted to the film as if they'd never seen it before. "I would say that that was a little more than just two 'friends' kissing, wouldn't you?"
Dawn answered for Ash, albeit with a little nervousness etched in her tone from being on camera. "W-well that wasn't what I meant to do. It was all just a big mistake."
"Really honey?" replied Lila, her voice the epitome of patronization. "Then why did you kiss him?"
Dawn blushed, but kept her composure. "Well, originally I was just going out there to give him a high-five like I normally would do after a big battle, but I guess I just got a little caught up in the whole moment, and ended up kissing him instead. It's not like it's never happened before."
"Let's take a look at what some of the magazines have said about your small encounter." The response seemed completely unrelated to Dawn's statements, but the teens did not object as she flipped through one of a number of tabloids she had sitting next to her on a small table. "In this one, they said you were a third wheel."
She opened another as Dawn blushed again. "And in this one, you actually tried to separate Ash and Misty after they got together. I remember hearing from somewhere that you'd actually challenged Misty to a battle for Ash's love, and that she ended up winning."
"What?" Misty responded this time. She'd been holding her boyfriend's hand, but at the host's words, her "holding" became more of a death grip which forced him to stifle a groan of pain. "We didn't have a battle for Ash! That's ridiculous."
"I'm sure most of it is just the tabloids making up stories," the woman answered sympathetically. "You know how those reporters can be sometimes…especially when it comes to celebrity gossip. However, can you actually say there isn't truth to anything they're saying? I mean, I think I could imagine Dawn as a third wheel if I were dating the famous Ash Ketchum."
"Dawn was never a third wheel," Misty defended. "She was great to have along, and we would have loved for her to stay with us."
It's not a complete lie, she reasoned. I wouldn't have absolutely hated it.
"Yeah!" Ash agreed. "She's a great friend of ours! We never would have kicked her out of our group."
"So what about some of these rumors swirling that you two didn't technically kick her out, but instead just abandoned her at one of the Pokémon Centers you were staying at in Johto? Is there any truth to that?"
"They would never have done that," Dawn answered for her friends. "They're some of the best friends I have!"
"So what you guys are saying then is that there is absolutely no hard feelings between any of you?"
All three shook their heads. "We're just as good friends as we've ever been."
Lila looked down at Misty above the glasses placed at the tip of her nose. "So you had no problem with this image?" She pointed back to the screen, with the video paused on Dawn's lips pressing against Ash's. "I mean, if everything's fine, and the kiss really didn't mean anything, then I guess you're perfectly okay with Dawn having kissed Ash?"
"Well…" There was a pause which seemed to fill the void of several minutes as Misty tried to create a correct response. However, Lila interjected before she had an opportunity to reply.
"And we'll hear her response right after a small break!" At her words, the bright fluorescent lights suddenly dimmed on the set, and Lila stood up and walked over to her producer. The two began a hushed conversation as the three teens remained seated.
"Can you believe all of that junk the tabloids made up?"
Ash shook his head. "What I can't believe is how much it seems she wants it to be true." He nodded in the direction of the host. "Did you hear how she talked to Dawn? And then she basically called her a third wheel herself."
"And the way she talks to us it's like she doesn't believe a word we're saying!" Dawn added. "I picked this show because so many people watch it, but maybe that wasn't such a good idea."
Misty gave Dawn a sympathetic look. "Look, don't worry about this Dawn. We're just going to have to be more aggressive. We thought she'd just accept the story we gave her, but we're gonna have to prove that we're telling the truth."
"How?"
"I dunno, but we'll figure a way out."
Lila returned to her chair as the cameraman signaled ten seconds. Giving the teenagers a suspicious look, she asked if everything was okay. "It seems like you guys aren't really giving me the entire story."
"Oh, we'll give it to you," Misty retorted curtly, causing a small look of surprise to take hold of her features momentarily. However, the lights came back to life and her cheery demeanor shone through once again.
"And we're back. Now Misty Waterflower, you were saying whether or not this image-" she pointed to the screen once again, "-actually bothers you. Though you claim that nothing between Dawn and Ash happened, it would seem from this photograph that something was indeed going on like so many have speculated."
"I guess they just speculated wrong," Misty replied simply with a shrug. Ash was impressed with her ability to maintain an innocent tone despite the clear animosity which was beginning to develop between the two. "Like Dawn said a minute ago, they were just caught up in the moment. Besides, Ash and I weren't even together then, so it's not like I would have had any reason to be upset."
"Still, it must have been upsetting to see the man you had feelings for kiss another girl."
Now Ash interjected. "I didn't actually kiss her. You can see that in the picture." Indeed, on the screen Ash's hands were far away from Dawn as she leaned in, and even his expression was one of confusion, not passion. "It's like we said before. She was just caught up in the moment."
"Hmmm, that is an interesting way to put it."
Dawn gave the host a concerned look. "Whaddya mean?"
"It still strikes me as weird, as I'm sure it does to everyone watching at home, that you would have quit travelling with Ash so soon after this took place if it really was just a big mix-up. Why not continue following the two around?"
"I wasn't following them around. I'm a coordinator, and I have contests in Johto that I have to compete in because I'm trying to get into the Grand Festival," Dawn explained, regretting her decision with even more ferocity. "I couldn't stay with Ash or Misty anymore. They needed to go one place and I had to go somewhere else. It's not like I had nothing else going on. I have my own life."
Lila pulled out another magazine, and Ash groaned.
Does she have an article for everything?
"According to Johto Weekly you've only obtained two ribbons. It sure doesn't seem like you're in too big of a rush to get ready for the Grand Festival which, for our viewers at home unfamiliar with contests, is only a few months away."
The audience once again responded enthusiastically to this news, and Ash felt them begin to grate on his nerves. This wasn't supposed to be a difficult process, but apparently everyone was determined to make their private business a public scandal.
"I've just had a little trouble in some of my latest contests." She blushed as she retorted. "I-it's hard to be out there by yourself and stay motivated to train and win sometimes."
The host nodded sympathetically once again, and Misty imagined herself smacking the false kindness off the woman's face. "I know it must be very difficult. That's why it doesn't make any sense for you to have stopped travelling with these guys…unless something happened."
"Lila, Dawn just said a minute ago that she's trying to win ribbons, and Ash and I have our own jobs that we're doing right now. It just couldn't work out to have us all travelling together."
The host put her hands up in mock defense. "Okay, okay. There's no reason to be so defensive about it Misty." After a second, a mischievous smirk crossed her face. "Though you know what they say; the guilty always yell the loudest."
"Actually, Misty is pretty much always the loudest. It doesn't have anything to do with whether she's guilty or not."
The response from her boyfriend cause an eruption of laughter from the audience, and an even larger one when Misty smacked the back of his head for saying such a thing on international television. "Like I'm the one with the big mouth."
"Oh, trouble in Paradise I see?" Lila seemed excited almost to the point of passing out at the small spat onscreen. "Are you guys having trouble in your relationship? Have you thought about going to a counselor or splitting up?"
Ash gave the woman a bewildered look. "Why would I break up with Misty? She's always hit me on the head…I'm just glad she quit using that mallet."
"She used to hit you in the head with a mallet? Unbelievable!"
"It was just a toy!" Misty retorted, talking to her boyfriend more than the host. "Besides, if you hadn't gotten us lost so many times, and hadn't made fun of me so much, I wouldn't have had to use it! You think you would've learned by now not to do that."
Lila appeared baffled. "Wait, so is this a regular thing then? The fighting and whatnot?"
Ash and Misty looked at each other for a moment before shrugging. "Uh, yeah," Ash responded. "I mean, we've always fought like this."
"Then why are you two together? That doesn't make any sense."
"Why wouldn't we be? We really like each other and have been friends since we were kids."
"But all the fighting. Most teenage couples I know of are at the mall holding hands and making out, but you just told me that your girlfriend regularly assaults you, and you said that he makes fun of you." She gave them a questioning look. "Why would anyone want to be in a relationship like that?"
"Um."
"Uh…"
"You can have a few minutes to think on your response while we go to commercial break," Lila informed, turning to the camera. "We'll be back with the answer after these messages!" The red lights atop the cameras turned off and she once again picked up her conversation with the producer.
"What do you think we should say?"
Ash shrugged. "I guess we just tell her why we like each other."
"I know that, but wasn't this supposed to be about why Dawn's kiss didn't mean anything? When did it suddenly become about why we fight so much?"
"Actually, this might work out perfectly for me," Dawn answered with a smile from Misty's left. "I think I just realized what I can say. Do you guys mind if I answer your question for you?"
"Go ahead," Misty granted, wondering what the coordinator had in mind.
A couple minutes later, Lila took her seat once again, and the audience began to clap as the lights shone down upon the set.
"And we're back with Ash, Misty, and Dawn. Now Misty, before we left for the break, you and Ash were talking about your constant arguments and fights."
"Well, I wouldn't say that they're constant."
"Anyway," the host punctuated, "I asked you why you two decided to pursue a relationship with all of the bad blood between you guys, and it seemed that you were having trouble giving me an answer. Is this something that you've wondered yourself at times?"
Dawn cleared her throat before Misty could reply. "If you don't mind, I think I have the answer for why these two like each other so much."
"Oh, the ex is going to weigh in. How exciting!"
The blue-haired teen frowned and gave the host a dark look. "I'm not the ex, because I was never Ash's girlfriend to begin with. Misty and Ash are perfect for each other, and I know it because of what they told me the day after this-" she pointed to the screen, "-happened. I asked them why they would like each other after fighting so much and seeming to never get along."
"What was their answer then?"
"Ash told me it was because Misty motivated him. He said that she always forced him to be his best, and that even though they fought and teased each other a lot, that was just the way they'd make each other do better the next time. He said if it wasn't for her fighting him all the time when he was growing up, he probably wouldn't be where he was today, and that he appreciated her for it. That's why I can prove that me and Ash were never together… because it's obvious from the way he talks that he's always been in love with Misty."
A series of "aw"s escaped from the listening crowd, and Lila gave the teen couple a small smile. "Well, I guess that is pretty sweet."
"I like Misty a lot, and everything Dawn said is true. We fight, but that's just because that's how we've always gotten along. I can't imagine what me and Mist would do if we couldn't fight."
"Probably kill each other," Misty answered, eliciting more laughs from the viewers. "But he's right, that's just how we are. I guess we really aren't like a lot of other young couples…which is probably a good thing since most of those guys make me sick."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I mean, when you're walking around and see couples just making out in front of everyone? That's kinda gross. Holding hands and sharing ice cream is cute, but people that just wanna slobber over each other-" she made a face "-are just annoying. You know?"
"So you and Ash never kiss?" Lila gave the teens a knowing glance. She seemed to have lost her edge for trying to pull a scandal out of the interview and was instead beginning to have fun.
Ash scratched the back of his head and blushed. "Well, I wouldn't say we never kiss…"
"But at least we're not always doing it where everyone can watch," Misty defended, blushing too. For the first time in a long time, Dawn began to laugh at the young couple.
"You guys look like a couple of Tomato Berries."
The two gave the young woman a stern glare. "Gee, thanks a lot Dawn."
"So it seems that the tabloids really were wrong then, huh? There never was some big love triangle going on between the three of you?"
"Absolutely not," Misty affirmed with a shake of her head. "We've always been good friends, and we always will be."
"Well, then I guess I just need to say thank you for allowing me to have the first ever personal interview with the Sinnoh Pokémon Champion and his two friends. You three have been lovely guests, and I'd love to have you back whenever you have the chance."
"Really? Thanks!" Ash shook her extended hand and stood as the crowd clapped.
"Coming up next, I'm going to talk with Jerry Stevens of Silph Co. about their latest project. Stay tuned!"
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"That was a great interview guys!" May hugged Dawn and Misty as the three walked backstage. "I thought it was really going downhill at first. It seemed like she just wasn't going to believe that nothing had happened, but then Dawn pretty much saved the day!"
"She really did. Thanks Dawn," Ash said hugging the young woman. "If you hadn't given such a great answer, I don't think she ever would have believed us."
"You know what's funny?"
"What Misty?"
"We actually didn't have to lie at all during any of that interview. Pretty much everything we said was the truth. I mean, Dawn never did date Ash, and I never battled Dawn for his love or anything like that. There was never a love triangle…just kinda a weird mix-up."
"Except when I said that I was just caught up in the moment," Dawn admitted, her cheeks burning a little. "I actually had kinda thought that through before it happened."
Misty gave the girl a small smile. "Don't worry about it. That's all in the past now! Besides, I can already tell that you're gonna find a really great guy soon…probably a lot greater than Mr. Dense here, anyway." She snickered at her own joke and Ash crossed his arms.
"Just make sure that he doesn't have a big mouth or red hair," he warned.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You keep talking about how smart you are. You figure it out." He stuck his tongue out and she began to rant.
"I don't know if I admire how they can still fight like kids, or am just annoyed that they still fight like kids," May wondered aloud.
"I can tell you which one I feel," Drew answered.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"So there I was, all by myself on top of the mountain! Snow was falling everywhere, and I could barely see through the haze and fog!" Drew's hands flew everywhere as he tried to keep his audience entertained in the middle of his hour-long story of his capture of an Abomasnow. "There was no one with me, not even May."
"It was too cold outside to go looking for snowmen," she explained before taking in another mouthful of spaghetti. "However, I don't remember it snowing that day. I think it was actually pretty sunny."
Drew frowned. "You never remember my stories right. Besides, you weren't even there, so you wouldn't remember." He turned his attention back to the other side of the booth with the three teens. "Anyway, so there I was, all alone, when I hear a gigantic roar come from the mountain peak!"
"Was that the Abomasnow?"
He nodded, glad that he at least held Dawn's interest. He could tell by Ash and Misty's expressions that they were having a difficult time believing his tale of conquest. "I looked up, and through the fog I could barely make out the gigantic creature's frame! I was almost too scared to keep going, but when you're the Grand Champion, you have to be brave. I knew this was my one chance to capture the mighty beast, so I quickly climbed up to the peak. The wind was howling all around me, and snow mixed with hail and freezing rain was blowing into my scarred eyes!"
"Okay, I'm gonna have to stop this story," May interrupted, having finished off the last of her dish. "There was definitely no hail or freezing rain. And you're making Abomasnow out as if he were some kind of monster! You told me he came to you while you were eating lunch because he wanted some of your sandwich."
She looked over at the three teens. "He's actually one of the cutest and friendliest Pokémon Drew has, really."
"You're ruining my story, May!"
"Well, you're telling it all wrong. And besides, it's not like they actually believe all of this."
Dawn looked confused. "You mean that really didn't happen? But you made it sound so real!"
"That's because it was," he assured, nonchalantly whisking his hair from his eyes. "I think May's jealous, is all."
"Well, what I'd really like to know is how you got a Metang," Ash mentioned, hoping to steer the conversation away from another one of his friend's lengthy stories. Also, though the contest had taken place over a week earlier, he'd been so busy preparing for the interview that he'd never gotten to hear how May had captured the almost legendary creature. "Those Pokémon are so rare and powerful!"
"Pika!"
"No, not as powerful as you, Pikachu," he assured. The Pokémon happily returned his attention to his small bowl of ketchup.
May smiled. "Well, it actually isn't very exciting…at least not as thrilling as Drew's story." She gave her boyfriend another skeptical look. "I was actually coming home for a few weeks, and when I got there Dad told me he had a surprise."
"The Metang?"
She nodded. "Yep, except then it was just a Beldum. I trained with it everyday because I wanted a Metagross really badly. I thought that you needed two Beldum to join together to make it evolve, so me and Drew looked everywhere for another one, but then one day during our training session it just did it on its own! I guess Pokémon can still surprise me after all of this time!"
"That's really cool, May," Dawn said. "I know what you mean about really wanting a rare Pokémon like Metagross. I have a Togekiss that's become one of my favorite all-time Pokémon to use!"
"Wow, a Togekiss? That's impressive!"
"Thanks. I really like her, and she was given to me as a gift, just like your Metang!"
"Does she do well in contests?"
"Well, at first we had trouble, but eventually I learned how to handle her style in contests and she's done well for me ever since. We barely lost to Zoey in the Grand Festival, and I hadn't even had her that long!"
"So are we ready to go back to the hotel now?" Drew asked, suddenly impatient now that the spotlight had been taken off of him. "I don't wanna sit in this booth forever."
"In a way, I kinda don't wanna go back to the hotel," May answered sadly. "I don't want to leave you guys again after it feels like we just got back together! Couldn't you come with me and Drew to Fortree?"
Drew shrugged and looked at Ash. "It might be fun…I mean, if you wanted to…whatever."
Misty smiled affectionately at her friends. "I wish we could, but there's so much going on right now. Thanks to your guys' help, we've got all the research we need to start changing things for the Sinnoh gyms, but we still have a lot more Pokémon to catch to stay on schedule. Also, I think Ash needs some time away from Drew…they're trouble together."
"That's true."
Dawn laughed as the two boys shouted at their respective girlfriends.
"What do you mean I'm trouble with Ash? We're not toddlers!"
"Yeah, what he said!"
"Actually, I think you two are more trouble together than me or Ash. We know that you girls, including Dawn, spend all night talking about us."
"Yeah!"
Misty gave the two a look of disbelief. "You guys honestly think we have nothing better to do with our time than talk about you? How boring do you think our lives are? We barely even mention you in our conversations unless someone's talking about the dumbest person they know."
"Oh yeah?" Ash glared at her. "Well we don't talk about you girls unless, uh, um…"
"Unless we wanna talk about people who annoy us a lot."
"Yeah!" Ash tried to reach across the long table for a high-five, but was still too far.
May turned and eyed her boyfriend with a hurt expression. "You think I annoy you?"
His angry face towards Misty instantly softened at the words. He turned to his flame and quickly shook his head. "No! Not at all! You're the best thing that's ever happened to me!"
"Way to stand your ground, Drew."
"Don't make fun of him for apologizing!" Misty scolded. "It wouldn't hurt you to say nice things like that more often…and admit that you're wrong a little more."
"I'll admit I'm wrong when I'm actually wrong…just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it never could."
She snorted. "You think you're so perfect? Well let me remind you of…"
As the couples went off in separate directions, Dawn watched both with curiosity. Ash and Misty did indeed fight a lot, while May and Drew seemed to be the very embodiment of the couple Misty announced despising earlier in the interview as Drew held May's hand and apologized repeatedly.
I think I still like May's relationship better.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"Are you guys all packed?" Misty asked tearfully as all the teens stood outside the hotel entryway. She knew it was a dumb question to ask, considering they had their backpacks on already, but she didn't want to say goodbye yet…even to Dawn.
"I'm all set," Dawn replied, slightly less emotional than her counterparts for obvious reasons. She was glad to make amends, but even happier to leave them alone for a while and sort out her own feelings. Also, now that she'd put all the rumors and controversy surrounding her to bed, she could finally return to Johto and focus on preparation for the Grand Festival.
"Us too, I guess," May replied, equally tearful. She'd spent over a month with her old friends, and seeing them leave was beginning to take its toll on her emotional state.
Drew kicked the dirt lightly with his shoe. "Um, I guess I'll see you around Ash." He held his hand out for the champion to shake.
"Yeah, I'm sure we'll see each other again really soon. If there's one thing I've learned after travelling so long, it's that you never go too long without running into old friends again." He gave the coordinator a big grin. "I'm glad we became friends."
"Me too," Drew answered with a smirk. "You're not half-bad a guy for a regular trainer."
"You're not that bad for a coordinator either."
"Thanks."
"I guess we should get going too," Misty reminded Ash. "We've got a long drive ahead of us. Dawn, are you sure that you wouldn't like a ride to the airport? It's on our way, I think."
She shook her head. "Thanks for the offer Misty, but I'm fine. I'm going to ride Togekiss there…she needs the exercise after being cooped up for so long."
Misty nodded and surprised the blue-haired coordinator by reaching to her for a hug. Though temporarily thrown off-guard, the young woman quickly reciprocated, and Ash couldn't help but smile.
"I'm glad I got to see you again, and I'm really glad we were able to put all of this behind us."
Though it still felt a little forced, the coordinator agreed. "I'm just glad to have some of my best friends back. I felt so alone thinking that no one liked me anymore and that we were all just enemies."
"We'll always be friends, Dawn," Ash reminded. "Even when we're fighting."
With a deep sigh, Misty released her grip on the girl and turned to hug May one more time. "I really will see you soon, and I know that I'll be calling you all the time now that I have your phone number."
May grinned as a few tears fell down her cheek. "I can't wait to hear from you! I'll call you tons too, and I'll send you some Pokémon if me or Drew ever find any rare ones we think you or Ash could use."
"Thank you so much!"
After several more sorrowful goodbyes, everyone was finally ready to leave.
"See you soon!" Misty and Ash cried one last time from inside the car as the pulled out of their parking spot. As Misty honked the horn in a final farewell, Ash could see Dawn release Togekiss from the rearview mirror, and he saw the two young women hug once more.
"I'm gonna miss them."
"Me too. It was a lot of fun to see May again. She's just grown up so much since I last saw her."
He grabbed her hand and laughed. "I think we all have, really."
She laughed too. After a small pause as she merged onto the highway, she turned to Ash. "I hope you don't think I'm mean, or some big hypocrite for what I'm about to say."
"What is it?"
"I mean, I really am going to miss May and Drew and Dawn, but…"
"What?"
"W-well, I'm kinda glad we have a little time to ourselves again. It'll be nice just having each other for a little while after so much time living with friends."
Ash gave her a warm smile which cause her heart to pound. "I was thinking the same thing. It's nice having such great friends…but I'm ready to enjoy my best friend."
"Pikachu!" cried the small mouse from the backseat.
Ash laughed and looked back. "Yes, and my best non-human friend too! I haven't been giving you enough attention lately, have I?"
The small mouse shook his head and the two teens continued laughing as the sun began to set.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"I think this is going to be a lot more difficult than first expected." The Rocket agent leaned against her boss's desk as he watched Ash and Misty leave the hotel from an infiltrated security camera. "We thought the popularity was dying down, and then they go and do this stupid interview. We won't have a clear shot at him for a while with the press all ruffled again."
The leader smiled. "I don't know about that. A little extra time may be just what we were needing."
"How do you think?"
"I think they're still a little worried that something will happen. Their defenses are still up. Let's give them a little more time in the sun…let them relax. Then, when they think it's all over, we can strike."
Mallory gave the older man an admiring glance. He was so powerful and such an efficient leader.
"And when we do strike, everyone will recognize and fear Team Rocket as they should…like they did in the days of my father." His eyes, for only a moment, seemed to drift away.
Returning his attention to his employee, he chuckled. "Perhaps it was best he didn't join our side after all."
Author's Notes: I really liked this chapter. I think it closed up another arc nicely, and it prepares us for the next segment (but if you disagree, you know what to do!). Next chapter will skip ahead a couple of months because, frankly, we need to get moving. Ash and Misty are meant to spend six months in Hoenn and five in Sinnoh, and I've only covered a little over two in Hoenn. Basically, next chapter is going to speed us along to the end of their journey in Hoenn, and you're going to see how their relationship has advanced after they've had a little more time alone with each other.
Anyway, there's not a whole lot to mention. I would like to again ask everyone to come out and review, even if I haven't gotten to your past review yet, please. I barely got this chapter out on time, so please know I haven't intentionally been blowing you off.
Also, before I go, I need to say something. I'm not a fan of anime, really. I know that's surprising because of, you know, the whole Pokémon thing, but truthfully Pokémon is about the only anime I enjoy. However, a few weeks ago I was watching Adult Swim on Cartoon Network, and I saw an anime that is unlike anything I've seen before. The show's name is "Cowboy Bebop", and it's one of the best shows I've seen. I don't have the time or energy now to describe everything that is awesome about it, but I have to recommend it to everyone. Even if you don't like much anime (like me), you can appreciate this, and if you love anime, then I'm sure you've already heard of it. Just look it up on YouTube, and prepare to be amazed. I would write a fanfic for it…but frankly, it's so perfectly written already that I can't imagine any way to improve it.
Alright, that's all I've got. See you in two weeks guys, and (for all you Americans out there) have a Happy Thanksgiving!