A/N: Thank you for your continuing support! Here's the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon or the picture used as cover, though I did edit it.

Days

The day when Misty can't tell

Misty

Saturday, November 23rd

"Alright, go, Pidgey!" The boy, who couldn't be older than twelve, threw the Poké Ball on one of the floating platforms and the bird Pokémon appeared in a red flash.

Misty forced her attention back to the battle, and yelled, "Misty calls Psyduck!"

Her own Poké Ball burst open and the water type appeared, looking as confused as always. The boy opposite her didn't waste another moment and called the first attack. "Sand Attack!"

Oh Arceus, she had no time for this.

"Scratch, Psyduck!"

Her attention drifted away again while Psyduck attempted to land a hit while sand (which had come out of practically nowhere) clouded the field. There were more important things than this battle against a beginning Trainer… Yesterday evening, she had met up with Leaf, who had then dropped a metaphorical bomb. They had met up to discuss the details of the Gym, or at least that's what Misty thought they were going to discuss, but Leaf had unpleasantly surprised her.

The Gym was not important right now, Leaf had told her. Her news, however… That had definitely been more important-

"Misty!"

Misty was brought back to the battle with a shock. While sand still obscured her vision, she could see that Psyduck was being mercilessly chased from one floating platform to the other by the Pidgey with its Wing Attack.

It had been Ash who had called for her attention, standing on the sidelines. At the end of the day he often came in to watch and sometimes they had a battle against each other, but she hadn't heard him come in just now.

Misty quickly refocused her attention on the battle. "Psyduck, Confusion!"

Psyduck looked at her with panicked eyes and squeaked in confusion. Misty let out a sigh that spoke of all her worries.

The Pidgey took the chance to land another Wing Attack and Psyduck toppled over.

"Alright, get up and try to use Scratch again!" she tried. While already tired from the Wing Attacks it had taken, Psyduck got up anyway. The Pokémon actually seemed determined as it tried to hit the Pidgey, but the sand made it difficult.

Psyduck had definitely made progress. Since she had returned from her honeymoon, Misty had often used Psyduck against inexperienced trainers, because it would give the young ones a chance and it was a learning experience for Psyduck. It had taken at least ten battles before Psyduck had started to get the whole purpose of a battle, but still, progress was progress.

On the other side of the battlefield, the young but perhaps not that inexperienced Trainer grew more enthusiastic. "Alright, Pidgey, let's finish this! Pick it up, fly high and throw it to the ground!"

Before Psyduck could even attempt to avoid it, Pidgey had grabbed it and was flying towards the ceiling.

"Psyduck, land on your head!"

It would be throw up whether Psyduck would do it or not (and even if it did land on its head, it might as well have been a coincidence). If it did, the battle would be won, if not, then Psyduck would be knocked out and the battle lost.

Psyduck fell, head towards the ground, and the next moment there was a flash and Pidgey was swung against the wall, knocked out. Psyduck sat dazedly on one of the floating platforms, seemingly unaware of its victory.

"Pidgey is unable to battle," the referee called, "Gym Leader Misty and Psyduck are the winners!"

The challenger stared at her with wide eyes, before running around the pool towards it fallen Pokémon. Psyduck was still staring off in space, and a moment later it dropped on its back from exhaustion.

Misty recalled it quickly. "You did really great, Psyduck," she said to the Poké Ball, before pocketing it.

"You did well," Misty complimented her opponent, who had recalled his Pidgey. While the boy looked far from happy, at least it didn't look like he was about to cry. The practiced speech flew from her mouth. "But my Pokémon and I were just too strong for you. Keep trying and training, and I'm sure you will succeed."

The boy simply nodded and then left, and as soon as he was gone Ash strode towards her. Misty gave him a confident and victorious smile, which made Ash slow down.

"Misty…? Uh, are you- Are you okay?" He seemed hesitant in his worry, a concerned frown on his face.

She shouldn't be distracted. She should focus on the battles and pretend that nothing was wrong.

"Yes, I'm fine, Ash, don't worry." She gave him her most convincing smile.

He continued to frown, but Misty turned away and with a brisk pace she walked to the Pokémon healing machine. If only she could tell him… But Leaf had explicitly told her to act normal, even though the news she had been given made that difficult to do so.

The machine beeped and Misty turned back to the battlefield, not at all surprised to see that Ash still looked worried. She was not a good actress.

Right. The next battle. Just one more.

"Hello! Have you come to challenge the Cerulean Gym?" Misty called to the opposite side of the pool, where a pretty teenage girl stood waiting. She smiled a little bit uncertainly and nodded, already enlarging a Poké Ball in her hand.

"Very well. I'm Misty Ketchum, and I'm the Gym Leader of the Cerulean City Gym. The battle will be one on one, for the Cerulean Gym Badge. Are you ready?"

"Yes." The girl nodded, a determined smile appearing on her face, and with a twirl she threw her Poké Ball. "Bellossom, take the stage!"

A Coordinator. Misty might have found it interesting in another situation, but now she just wanted to this to be over, and to keep Ash from asking more questions. "Gyarados!"

With a red flash the huge Pokémon appeared, and already the small grass type seemed cowed. One Flamethrower later and the girl was sent home with a slightly blackened Bellossom cradled in her arms.

Misty didn't feel any real triumph, though, just the constant wriggling fear and worry in her stomach. She recalled Gyarados and looked at her opponent. "Well done. Just keep training and you'll get there."

The words were automatic and hollow, and the girl didn't know how quickly she had to get away. Misty stuck her nose in the air and ignored the looks of both her referee and Ash. So what if it was overdone? She had other business to get to.

"What's wrong with you, Misty?" While the worry still rang in Ash's voice, he also sounded confused and even scolding.

"Nothing," she bit back. "I'm perfectly fine. Really." She tried to smile at him to take the sting out of her words, but Ash was obviously not buying it.

"But-"

"I'm fine, Ash! Just leave me alone, okay?!" That was a sure signal that she wasn't fine, but she hoped that the look in her eyes told Ash that he really needed to leave her alone, or else…

Ash opened his mouth, but finally closed it again and shook his head. "Fine." His angry frustration disappeared, leaving only worry. "But I hope you know what you're doing, Misty."

Misty swallowed as she walked away, and she really hoped she knew what she was doing, too.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please review!

Thank you!

Recommendations:

Pokémon: Fashion Victim by Snoaz. FFN. Thanks to inklaced for recommending this story to me! This is an amusing and romantic one-shot that manages to capture the personalities of Green and Blue very well, and yes, it's OldrivalShipping :)

Pokémon: Murder Mystery Mansion by Alyss Ashworth. FFN. PokeshipperByHeart recommended this story to me, thank you! If you want to read a nice length, multi-chaptered, completed and very fluffy story about Ash and Misty and how they get together, then this story is perfect for you! Also good for some nostalgia for the first few seasons :)

A song of Ice and Fire & Game of Thrones: Sean Bean Saves Westeros – Book 1: Sean Lends a Hand and its sequel, Sean Bean Saves Westeros – Book 2: Sean Wins by a Nose by High Plains Drifter. FFN. So far this series consists of two complete books, which are both very amusing to read. They're rated M, though, and written in a similar style as A song of Ice and Fire, so they might be difficult to wrestle through, but it's absolutely hilarious to see how Sean Bean finds himself in the body of Ned Stark and tries to fix Westeros without getting killed.

Please, recommendations are very welcome!