Hey Everybody! First and foremost, this chapter is dedicated to my loyal reviewer, AshAndMistyForever! They actually suggested the theme of this week's chapter, and unbeknownst to them, I took that suggestion and ran with it! I won't give anything away up here, but suffice to say that if you wonder whether your reviews really matter or not, AAMF's review literally shaped this installment! So thank you, AAMF!
I hope to continue receiving great suggestions and criticism as we bring this story to a close, so once you've read, REVIEW THIS STORY PLEASE!
Alright, what are you waiting for?
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or any of its affiliated companies including, but not limited to, 4Kids, The Pokémon Company, Game Freaks, or Cartoon Network. The characters written within this story are solely 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: 18
Misty: 19
"You ready yet?"
"Almost! He wrote me back!"
"Really? What's it say?"
"Um, hold on. Let me open it. 'Misty, excellent question! I believe you will indeed have many opportunities for travel and battling under my mentorship. In fact, your specialty in water will be of a unique nature to help me in my newest endeavor. Recent seismic data suggest large quakes around the Seafoam Islands, and researchers report a near-freezing temperature inside the islands' caves despite the tropical setting! Someone who has experience with water and ice type Pokémon, along with the ability to travel seamlessly between the islands, would be the perfect candidate to go as my representative (you'll receive classroom credit, of course). As I've gotten older I've become more accustomed to using trainers to do my "dirty work," if you will. The current Master actually began his journey at my behest for this very reason! Anyway, feel free to let me know of any more questions you may have. SKU has received your transcript and is reviewing your application now. I will let you know if I hear anything!'"
"That's great! So you won't have to give up battling!"
"Yeah. That makes me feel a lot better." She closed the laptop and stood up to stretch. "Just because I don't want to be a professional trainer anymore, doesn't mean I want to be stuck inside all day. My Pokémon deserve to battle, and the exercise keeps me focused too."
"Not to mention you have to stay sharp if you're gonna be married to the Master."
She giggled. "Yeah, I guess I do. Can't let you get too full of yourself."
"Too late."
"Definitely. You ready?"
He opened the hotel room's door for her and they walked to the elevator. "So we have a couple of options."
"Nothing with food. I've been binging the last week out of depression."
"You've been eating celery with peanut butter."
"So?"
"Your idea of binging and mine are very different."
"Still."
"Fine. I had a big lunch, so it's not a big deal to me. Oh, remind me to stop by the Center after we're done."
"Why?"
"They're closed tomorrow morning, and I wanna pick up Pikachu so we can get on the road early. It's been fun hanging out, but I've barely trained this week."
She winced. "Yeah, sorry for being a distraction."
They stepped out into the bustling Saffron City night. "Don't be sorry!" He gave her a quick kiss. "I wanted to be there for you while you felt down about the competition. If it cost me a few days of work, so be it."
"But this is a big time for you, and the biggest battle of your life is coming up!" She looked down. "We should've gone straight back to Pallet with your mom."
"Quit pouting! You know you're more important to me than any battle." He gave her a wink as he lifted her chin and flexed. "Besides, with muscles like this, who needs to train?"
She broke out into another series of giggles, smacking his chest. "You're the worst. Just for that, you owe me ice cream."
"I thought you were done binging?"
"At the end of our date, when we've walked off the calories."
"Deal."
They walked along the sidewalk as cars honked and sped by.
"Ugh, it's so noisy."
"Yeah. You've needed the distraction, though."
"I have, but honestly, I could stand for a little peace and quiet. I'm not feeling too bad anymore."
"Wanna rent a bike?"
"Sure!"
They rented two from a corner kiosk and took the bike lanes out of the city. They didn't talk much, but occasionally Ash would overtake Misty, sticking his tongue out at her as he passed. She would reciprocate.
Forty-five minutes later, they were out of downtown, and winding through the suburbs. The noise of traffic was dulled to a distant roar as the bright lights of the metropolis lit the sky behind them.
"I'm starting to feel like I can breathe again."
"Me too. I'm glad you wanted to get out of there."
"Guess you've turned me into a country Rattata."
A barreling eighteen wheeler screamed by them.
"Ugh, let's get off the main road!" In the distance, a neighborhood appeared. "We'll go bike around there."
Turning in, they passed a few shops and restaurants that seemed to cater to the locals before coming to the residential area. The entire neighborhood was divided into smaller communities, and they turned into the first, biking under the yellow street lights.
"These are pretty." Misty stopped, and dismounted. "Let's leave them here at the corner."
"Okay."
She grabbed his hand. "You know, it's funny. I never used to do stuff like this."
"Like walking?"
"No, dummy. Like, just going for long walks to nowhere in particular. If you had asked me a couple years ago, I would have thought going for a night walk in a quiet neighborhood sounded boring. But with you…well, it's different."
"I know what you mean. I feel the same. Obviously battling is still a big part of my life, but with you it doesn't feel like it's the biggest part anymore, and that's actually nice. Even if I lose a battle, it's not the end of the world, because we have each other. Just walking with you beats becoming the Master any day."
"I don't believe you."
"It's true!" He gave her another kiss. "You're all I really want, Mist."
"You too. Except for that ice cream."
"Oh, yeah! Can I change my answer?"
They walked on a little in silence. "So how mad do you think your mom will be?"
"I'm hoping it won't be too bad."
"It scares me to think she might hate me for all this."
"That won't happen. She loves you. I'm more worried about me."
"I still think I could postpone college one more year. Oak said his offer will still stand."
"For the last time, no. The truth is, I never really wanted to do college."
"That's fair, but you've still been promising her this for years now. That was one of the big reasons she was okay with you leaving for your Master journey to begin with."
"Well I'm an adult now, so I can make my own choices."
"Huh."
"What?"
"I've just never heard you talk that way about your mom before."
"It's getting old having people tell me what to do when it's not what I want."
"She just wants what's best for you."
"And I don't? I've worked hard to get here, but because my mom wants me to go to college, I have to drop everything to make it happen? Why? I already have a job! Isn't that the whole point?"
"You also go to learn new things and grow as a person."
"Mist, do you seriously think there's anything left for me to learn? I'm about to be the number one trainer in the world."
"There's more to life than being a trainer. You said so yourself."
"Yeah, I said you're more important. But if I go to college, then we'll be apart."
"Like I said, I can put off going for a year."
"No!" He stopped walking. "You're not putting your dreams off for me. You've followed me around the world for the last two years to help achieve mine – it's time I did the same for you."
"That's very sweet," she looked up and gave him a kiss, "but I didn't do all this so you'd owe me one. I followed you because I love you."
"And I'm going to follow you for the same reason."
They started walking again.
"It just feels like you're mad at your mom, and it feels bad thinking I'm the one driving a wedge between you two. She's like a mom to me too, you know."
"There's no wedge. I haven't even talked to her since we left Vermillion."
"But you get tense every time I bring her up."
"Because I know how she'll react when I tell her I'm not going."
"Remember, she'll be hurt, Ash. She thinks this is what's best for you, and moms always freak out if you go off that path."
"I understand that. But like I said, I'm a grown man now. Plans change. You're not going to be at Vermillion, so neither am I."
"Selfishly, I'm really glad to hear that." She wrapped her arm around his and leaned on his shoulder as they continued under the lamps. "I couldn't be without you for three years, or even just one."
"Me neither. I love you."
"I love you, too."
Silence.
"So you wanna live here?"
"Hm?"
"When we get married. Wanna buy a house like these?"
"Oh! Um, maybe? I mean, they're nice and all."
"I like how they look similar, but not the same, you know?"
"Yeah, but I don't know if the suburbs are for me, exactly."
"Really?"
"I told you, I'm more of a country girl now, thanks to you. I like the way your old house is set-up; with a town and neighbors not too far away, but far away enough that there's some space."
"Wow, you really are changing. I never thought I'd see the Cerulean Mermaid become a Pallet farmgirl." He started laughing and Misty blushed.
"You're a jerk!"
"I'm just playing! I know, I know, you still love Cerulean."
"You better know that!"
"But you really like the way my old house is?"
"Not anymore."
"Oh, c'mon, Mist. I was just playing!" She kept walking, so he grabbed her arm and pulled her into his chest. She struggled to get away but he held her tight. "Let's hug unto you feel better."
"Ugh, you smell like barbecue sauce!"
"Uh. Oh yeah! I had ribs for lunch. I think I spilled some on my shirt."
"Let me go!"
"Not until you forgive me."
"Never!"
"Um, is everything all right out here?" a new voice piped. An older woman stood on her front porch, staring with wide eyes.
Ash let go quickly.
"Oh, um, yeah. Yes ma'am." He gave a slight bow. "Sorry, we were just playing."
"Yeah, I'm fine. He's just stupid." Misty also bowed. "We'll be on our way."
Grabbing his hand, she and him ran out of the old woman's sight. As they rounded a corner, they slowed to a stop and looked at each other. Misty immediately broke down in a fit of giggles as Ash caught his breath and chuckled.
"That lady looked scared of me! What if she'd called the cops?"
"What did she think you were doing?" Misty wiped a tear away from her eye. "Trying to kill me with your boobs?"
"I mean, they are pretty incredible." He flexed again and she roared with laughter.
"Let's head back towards the bikes. We can get some ice cream at that shop we passed at the entrance."
"You'll have to do better than that, Ketchum."
"Hm?"
"We've only been out for an hour. Do you realize how many calories are in ice cream?"
He sighed. "A lot."
"You've got a long night of walking and talking ahead of you."
Dramatically rolling his eyes, he smiled, and pulled her close to his side. "I guess I can handle that."
The night went on, full of laughter and light and love. Its magic surrounded the two and eventually led them to their bed and each other's arms. Ash forgot to pick up Pikachu.
At some point in the early morning, the phone's ceaseless vibration pulled him out of a deep, dreamless sleep.
"Mm, answer it, Ash."
"Not now."
"Could be important." She lazily shoved his arm.
His vision was blurred. He knocked over a glass of water before finding the phone.
"Hello?"
Misty rolled over to return to sleep, but was almost immediately shaken back awake.
"We gotta go."
"Hm? What?"
Ash was out of bed and pulling up his shorts. As he looked for a t-shirt, he threw some clothes to her.
"We gotta go, now."
"What's going on?" She pushed herself up and covered her chest. "What's wrong?"
He looked up from the suitcase with hollow eyes. "It's Lance. He's dead."
Author's Notes: In case it wasn't clear, AshAndMistyForever had suggested (a couple weeks ago) that I put in another "lovey dovey" scene with Ash and Misty, reminiscent of the romantic chapters I used to write (Chapter 33 is my personal favorite). "Maybe a date," to quote them directly. Once I read that, I couldn't get it out of my head. After all, since I've come back to this story there's been very little interaction between our two protagonists. This is mostly due to the divergence of their goals. Still, though, our favorite couple deserved a night out on the town (or neighborhood, in this instance), so I decided to give them just that.
Beyond the date, what did you think of that twist? I've mentioned Lance a few times since coming back to the story, but never gave a real answer to his condition. Even still, I assume many of you forgot he was injured after all this time, so it may seem a little shocking that he's passed. If you need a reminder as to what happened to him, go reread Chapter 45.
So, like I said, what did you think? How do you think Ash will handle the loss of Lance? What do you think will happen next? Let me know in the REVIEWS!
See you next Sunday!