Hello :P It is Wednesday and I am back with a new chapter! Despite having a tougher subject matter, this one was actually harder for me because it has some dealings with the children from the Alolan Pokemon school and that is brand new for me. This is another PokeShipping Month chapter and the theme is high school/college and even though it's technically not that, it's still school! And I went back to my Alolan Pokemon School AU for this one. I've written about it twice before in "The One At The Lunch Table" and "The One With The Counsellor". It's basically just an AU if Ash and Misty didn't go on Pokemon Journeys and attended that school instead. And here, Misty has a bit of a tough lesson to deal with. But she has Ash there to help her through it. And Pikachu too of course! I hope you enjoy :3
Disclaimer: I own the story and the OCs mentioned!
Professor Kukui marched over to the front of the Alolan classroom and after patiently waiting for his students to settle down with a bit of a friendly smirk on his face, he prepared to begin the lesson. My ears were pricked and I was ready to learn. The Professor had my full attention. Well, almost!
To tell you the truth, I was being given a very enjoyable chin scratch from one of the students whom I had a special bond and it was causing my spine to tingle with joy. But nevertheless, I intended to listen as well as the other children. The raven haired eleven year old had a pen in his other hand while he scratched me with the other but he too was ready to be attentive. So it was time for the lesson to begin.
"Right you lot. Now that you're ready to focus then I will begin without hesitation like our friend Pikachu here doesn't hesitate to let out a thunderbolt attack!" Professor Kukui started in an amusing way and needless to say, all attention then went over to me when he said that! Some children smirked along with him. Most of them giggled. Ash grinned and moved his knuckles over to the top of the head and rubbed me enthusiastically. I blushed sheepishly. But I knew it was well-intended. It meant to get the children's attention. And it worked. The Professor continued, one hand gesturing to the whiteboard behind him. "Today we will of course return to our study of Pokémon Trainers from regions all over. And we will continue learning about all of the Gym Leaders from Kanto!"
I looked around the classroom. Following the reactions of all of the students in the Alolan classroom being very similar when the Professor included me in his interaction, there was quite a good few mixed ones there and then.
Ash of course continued smiling – very happy to be there and his home region being the study of focus for the next couple of weeks – his pen still being fiddled around in one of the hands while the other stroked at my cheek.
The oldest student in the room who I knew to be a reserved and serious but kind-hearted young man called Kiawe merely stuck his chest further out and tapped under his own chin with interest but remained nonchalant other than that.
My second friend closest to Ash – the girl who I had another very good bond with and who went by the name of Misty – had a similar reaction to Kiawe. Though she appeared to be scribbling words down in the back of her notebook every now and then for personal reasons rather than educational, she was listening to the Professor as well. But she too didn't seem particular over the moon. She just shared a look and a small smile with me before getting back to her scribbling.
The other three girls in which one was the same age as Misty and the other two older and younger respectively all had different reactions as well even though theirs were most similar. Mallow, Lillie and Lana shared smiles with each other before one nudged forward on their seat enthusiastically, the other played with their hair and the other cupped their face with their hands as their elbows rested on their desk.
And then last but not least, while Ash's affectionate and enjoyable tickles moved from my cheek and to the fur on my chest instead, it was Sophocles who reacted the most to Professor Kukui's imput. He nudged forward in his chair, and he ran a hand through his hair, and he beamed! And in addition to this, he put his hand up and couldn't help but ask.
"Who will we be studying next, Professor, Kukui, who will we be studying next?" he questioned with intrigue and I for one wasn't really surprised by his reaction. I had grown to understand him as an intelligent boy. Though he had a passion for technological things which I didn't quite get a handle on, he was friendly and hard-working nevertheless. My good friend Ash seemed to have a similar reaction to me and he smiled in a way that wasn't surprised at all by Sophocles' interaction with the Professor. He looked over at him. Misty did a similar thing to the raven haired male. But then I supposed – red heads probably stuck together!
The tanned male and native to Alola gestured softly to the orange haired round cheeked boy for him to sit back down in his chair when he noticed his bottom starting to rise slightly as he waited for an answer. Sophocles caught on straight away and followed these orders. He smiled as he showed off a face that was ready to be quiet and listen. I just had a smile. There was definitely a lot of respect between professor and students and I so admired that. The classroom was a wonderful place to be. And I felt that way even when Ash wasn't giving me particularly nice attention.
"I sure appreciate your enthusiasm, Sophocles, and I have a feeling that you share that trait with one of the people that we will be taking the time to learn about next." Professor Kukui continued introducing his lecture and in the process of doing so, he reached for the whiteboard rubber and rubbed over the scribbling's from the class before. He may have glossed over those findings but he didn't waste the opportunity to compliment and engage his students. The three girl's sat nearest together shared smiles again. They were certainly curious. So the Alolan teacher recommenced. "Like I mentioned earlier, we have of course been studying the gym leaders of Kanto recently. So I'm wondering – can any of you guess who will be next on our list?"
An influx of hands flew far above student's heads and I couldn't help but find the gusty breeze very refreshing in the Alolan heat! Of course, Ash's hand went up as well but he made sure to use the one that he was still using to hold his pen. His other hand remained on my chest.
It was true that Professor Kukui was a well-respected man and he most definitely got that reputation from the way that he ran his classroom. He chuckled to himself with amusement before he gestured to his students to put their hands down – they didn't need to be so well-behaved.
Instead, the Professor took it upon himself to point at a student who he knew had held their hand up and asked them to take a guess. He gestured to Mallow at first. She exclaimed the name of Erika from Celadon City with enthusiasm but Professor Kukui put his hands on his hips, shaking his head. It was a no. The children weren't going to be studying that particular gym leader and that particular gym from my own home of Kanto.
The green haired girl recovered from it well, though. And after she just shrugged and smiled, curious for who was going to be picked next, Professor Kukui did exactly that. Despite the fact that he hadn't put his hand up, the Alolan teacher chose him anyway because he knew that he was comfortable with classroom participation.
Kiawe unfolded his arms and sat further up when he realised that he was being called upon. He had a remaining nonchalant expression and raised eyebrows but soon enough, even he couldn't help but join in with the younger student's zeal. He had a little bit of fire in his eyes as he wondered if it was going to be Blaine of the Cinnabar Island gym.
Professor Kukui was silent for quite some time as he let the fire in Kiawe's eyes burn for longer – the anticipation started to become unbearable! I grinned along with Ash. Then the teacher replied. He snapped his fingers at his oldest student in that particular classroom. The fire type Pokémon Kahuna believed himself to be correct. He tried not to let his eyes widen and a slight smirk to take over his face. It was lucky he didn't let himself go that far.
Kiawe soon received the same response as Mallow had been given. Professor Kukui shook his head. That was a no as well. And it was time for one last person to be tested.
Yet again for the purpose of suspense, Professor Kukui wiped the remainder of the old chalk from the board and only calling on one more student when it was all spick and span. With kindness and gentleness on his face, he moved to stand in front of the desk belonging to the student that was Lana. She was a soft-spoken and placid girl. But she had held her hand up so it was obvious that she had a response in mind. All eyes went to hers as she asked.
"Is it the Cerulean Gym?" the blue haired girl younger than both Ash and Misty asked and contrasting to her softly spoken tones, Professor Kukui clicked his fingers all over and beamed. He almost danced over to the blackboard all over again and stretched his arms out with excitement. He grinned.
"Yes! It is going to be the Cerulean Gym and we will be focusing on some very specific people from there." He told his students and it caused a bit of a hustle and bustle. Lana's cheeks blushed an endearing shade of red as not only could she believe that she had been right, but she couldn't contain her excitement about getting to learn about the water type gym of Kanto! Mallow and Lillie shared more smiles and some whispers about the place as well.
Kiawe tried to look a little bit disinterest after the one that he had hoped had not been picked. But then he couldn't stop a smile from taking over his own face at the pure and introverted joy of Lana. There were lots of different reactions to see and enjoy in the middle of enjoying Ash's tickles and him leaning across to get Sophocles' attention briefly as well.
Professor Kukui gave his students time to do that. And in the middle of that, I had the time to glance over at one of the students in particular. I didn't like to say anything or make it too obvious but I understood that one of them was going to know an awful lot about the subject that had been chosen.
Misty had returned to scribbling at the back of her book – seemingly far more disinterested than she had been even at the beginning of the lesson. I furrowed my brow. However, I didn't have enough time to ponder the meaning behind all of that or even remember it myself from the little chats that we had. Professor Kukui had taken charge of his classroom all over again.
He turned around to face the blackboard following clapping in a respectful way to get his students' attention and then he did some doodles on the board. One could be interpreted as a building – the Cerulean Gym, most of the children assumed. A water droplet shaped object. And the ocean.
Once all of the amusing but helpful doodles had been completed, the Professor turned back around to face the children in the classroom. He smiled and gestured to the board before adjusting the cap that was on his head. Ash copied, both of his hands finally away from me. The tanned Alolan teacher elaborated his previous words.
"We're going to take a back-track today, actually, and for today we're going to study the people that ran the gym before we learn about the people who are in charge of it now. There's a million questions I could ask you… But I am going to start with…" Professor Kukui paused for effect once again and in that moment, I wondered if it was he or Samson Oak who was more engaging and comical in their approach to teaching! I pondered that in between glancing over at Misty – wondering when she was going to appear a bit more interested. I would have to wait. "Do any of you happen to know any of the people associated with the Cerulean Gym?"
Now of course, when Professor Kukui said these words, he meant if the children knew of anybody associated with that particular place in Kanto. However, I for one hadn't really taken too much notice of why Ash had been previously leaning across his desk to get the attention of Sophocles. It wasn't because he wanted to natter away to the fellow boy, even if he did that quite often – oh no.
The raven haired eleven year old boy wished to get the attention of someone else. Another redhead, in fact. It hadn't been forgotten by him that as soon as Professor Kukui mentioned that gym in that particular region that in recent months, he had become quite friendly with a person he knew to be from there! It wasn't very well known to the other kids. But it was known to him.
I watched as while Professor Kukui went back to adding more doodles to his blackboard, the raven haired boy openly waved to get his friend's attention and he grinned at her. Misty finally looked up from doodling. She had a confused expression when he saw her new friend's enthusiasm! However, defensiveness took over and she gave him a harsh glance. Before she could mouth the words "what?" – she understood what exactly the fellow child was getting at.
Though I saw the way that she swallowed ever so subtly and her furrowed brow faltered, she soon went back to keeping up that act. And in addition to this, she shot Ash even more of a telling look than before. It wasn't exactly harsher. But it was full of what she was getting at.
The tanned young man from Kanto found himself swallowing and though he sniffed stubbornly and pouted his lips, he knew not to bring it to the attention of the rest of the class that Misty was one of the people associated with the Cerulean Gym.
Misty relaxed and exhaled when Ash sighed too before picking at the lid of his pen. And I took the opportunity to finally move away from being the classroom Pokémon right by his side and decided to join the orange haired female instead. I felt like she needed the company more than Ash did. So making sure to avoid Lillie and startling her, I joined Misty by her side. The young girl from the Cerulean Gym continued nonchalantly scribbling in the back of her book but I felt like she was grateful for my decision to choose her there and then. She most definitely needed the support with what happened next.
Professor Kukui chuckled and after he put his stubs of chalk down, he stroked his own beard with his own hand and turned back around to face Ash, Misty, Kiawe, Lillie, Mallow, Lana, Sophocles and me.
"I hear you, I hear you. I hear all what you're saying and suggesting and whispering. But we're going to learn about the people before the ones that you might know about right now. We're going to learn about these two." The tanned teacher from Alola acknowledged the mutterings and questions that he had heard from the students and then following that, without faltering, he reached into his pocket and pinned two photos on the whiteboard. He continued without a hitch. He gestured. "Guys, this is Jordan Williams and Lynne Williams and we are going to learn all about them today."
Misty had not been touching me or making contact with me at all but I almost felt her invisible touch stiffening on me there and then. I tried not to make it too obvious but I glanced over at her. To an outsider – nothing would have been noticed at all. And that's how it went down from the Professor and the other children's perspective. They all just merely gasped and nodded and continued being present and attentive in the lesson.
But to me, I could see it all. No, I could feel it all. Misty's whole body lurched and tensed in one yet still from an outside point of view, it somehow didn't change at all. She remained unreadable. She remained composed. Her pen remained in her hand. But she held it tightly. She swallowed. She didn't want to look over at the whiteboard. She didn't want to look over at the whiteboard and see the photos of her parents.
As I moved closer to the orange haired female protectively but subtly too and simply pretended that I wanted a bit of a pat like I had received from Ash, Professor Kukui continued his lesson. Most of the students were listening.
"Jordan and Lynne Williams were some of the most renowned trainers in the Kanto Region. They both shared the gym and they both battled. Lynne grew to be more behind the scenes in later years but Jordan remained dedicated and renowned through most of his time there. Despite being Kanto Gym Leaders, they were both actually from Johto! Can anyone guess where?"
The words went through my brain almost as if Professor Kukui was reading from a book but that was only because I was so focused on watching the change – or rather, no change – on Misty's face. I couldn't see it – I could hardly see it – but I could feel it. I could feel her wanting to double over and not hear any of it at all. But in that moment she finally looked up and she finally looked over at the photos of her parents for the whole of the classroom to see.
I could have sworn that it was that moment and that moment then that Professor Kukui swallowed. Maybe he did understand what Misty was going through. But he didn't want to seclude or alienate her. That was just an assumption. Most of the details that took up my brain were sheer admiration and awe that Misty was finally looking over and preparing to engage in the lesson fully, her hand shakily reaching out to pat the top of my head.
I heard the answers from the other children but not really. Kiawe suggested near the Lake of Rage, rather apt for their water Pokémon origins and his fiery persona. Out loud Sophocles wondered if perhaps they were all the way from Blackthorn City. Lillie piped up that they could have perhaps been from New Bark Town – where a lot of journeys began.
While Professor Kukui snapped his fingers all over again and pointed towards Lana – for she had piped up some answers and got it correct where Lynne hailed from – I then noticed that one of the usual participants from the classroom was being unusually quiet. And that time, it wasn't Misty. It was Ash.
Now, it could have easily been put down to the warning from Misty moments ago and knowing not to get on the wrong side of her! But I could feel it in my bones that it wasn't just that. It was true that I was so very close to Ash and since being the Alolan School's Pokémon pet and often daydreaming that he was my own trainer, we had an incredible bond. I could feel his unusual hesitance. I could sense his deep down sympathy. I could understand his surface level concern. His concern was for his orange haired friend.
Ash could see the way that although she was looking ahead and at the board and at the Professor, her eyes were flickering as well. He didn't quite understand it. He didn't know much about her or why she was at the school or why he often saw her outside the counsellor's office. But he knew that she too wasn't being as extroverted in the classroom either. And he got a feeling for this because of the way I had joined her side as well.
In the midst of all that thinking and noticing Ash's caring (yet restless) expression and feeling Misty's brave (yet faltering) hand on the top of my head, the raven haired male and the orange haired female's fellow class mates had started to pipe up quite a lot. It was encouraged by Professor Kukui. But it was all becoming a lot.
What kind of badge did they give out, wondered Mallow? What kind of Pokémon did they own, questioned Kiawe? How long were they gym leaders, asked Lillie? Where exactly did they originally come from, inquired Lana? And then it was Sophocles who came out with the biggest question of all.
"Why do you keep saying "were", Professor Kukui? "Were" from Johto? "Were" awesome trainers?" Sophocles started and then he paused. I could almost hear Misty holding her breath. I could almost kid myself that Ash and Professor Kukui were too. "Are they not around anymore?"
Misty held her breath and she didn't let it go. I didn't know if Ash did but the Professor of the classroom did. He scratched his beard. He glanced at the blackboard and then he scratched his beard some more. And then after that, he took his white cap off and scratched the top of his head. All of the children shared looks. Ash and I shared a look. We didn't dare look at our friend Misty. Before we even had a chance, Professor Kukui had gentle and digestible words to say.
"That's really why I chose these two for us to learn about today. I knew it was going bring some important and mature conversations and I know I can trust you guys to be sensitive about it." The Alolan male with his hair visibly tied back started to explain and he leaned against the back wall of the classroom. Mallow, Lillie and Lana all shared looks. Ash and I managed to keep our eyes to ourselves, though they were filled with concern and sympathy too. Professor Kukui continued in a way that was both open yet to the point. "Do any of you know anybody who is no longer around? Someone you've lost? Perhaps a friend? A relative? A Pokémon?"
Misty's eyes dropped down. While Ash's eyes continued looking over at Professor Kukui and widening, Misty's dropped down. She didn't react apart from that. And then she gave shaky sideways glances to the children in the room who piped up. I listened to the words of the Professor after he put his hat back on his head and agreed with them.
"Okay. Okay, they are some very important names that you started suggesting to me but they are from TV shows and books and things like that." It was Professor Kukui's turn to pause. I could tell that he was trying hard not to look at any students in particular. He tried to prompt in a subtle and age appropriate way. "Has someone you've truly known been lost to you?"
It was there and then that Misty made contact with another student – eye contact – but it was not with Ash. It wasn't with Ash at all. You see, somebody else was in a bit of a similar boat. Though they had participated in answering and asking beforehand, when the subject got personal, they quietened down. It was Mallow. She had nudged back in her seat. In the process of doing that, she shared a look with Misty.
Both girls assumed that each other's eye contact and lingering look before the contact dropped down again was not out of empathy. Both of them assumed that it happened because it happened – not because they related to it so strongly.
And then after they had that little moment together, it was time for one of them to be brave. It was time for one of them to be open. But it was not Misty. The orange haired female listened and the rest of the classroom listened and I listened as Mallow recounted the story of her mother and how she had lost her when she was very little.
It clearly affected her so very much. Mallow shared memories with us. She shared regrets. She shared tears. She really opened up. Most of us looked down at our desks. We found it easier that way. We looked down and we looked away but our hearts were open and Mallow felt that – so she continued. She opened up and she continued and she poured it all out.
Not many of us could relate – we could only empathise. But of course there was somebody in the room who could relate and who had been there. It caused Misty to double over enough to have to begin learning about her deceased parents but hearing Mallow recount tales that were far too similar to her own caused her stomach to lurch. And then it caused her legs to lurch. Without a moment of hesitation and while Professor Kukui moved to wrap his arm around Mallow's shoulders, Misty moved away from her desk and sprinted out of the classroom!
All eyes widened. Mallow had tears in her eyes from her bravery and then she hiccupped with the concern that she had gone too far. Kiawe sadly unfolded his arms. Sophocles twiddled his feet under the desk. Lana's own eyes pooled with tears. Lillie handed her a tissue after she was done using hers.
And then naturally it was Ash who – like Misty – had no moment of hesitation with his actions either. Dropping his pen right on the floor, he sprinted out of the classroom to follow her. The last thing I saw before I followed him as well was Professor Kukui not making much fuss of it at all and focusing on squeezing Mallow's shoulders.
It was nice that those two girls could obviously relate. But it was deeply horrible as well. It was raw. It was real. It was far too raw and it was far too real for Misty. She had run right out of the classroom. She hadn't got very far. She collapsed against the window sill of the classroom a few doors along and buried her head in her hands. Her shoulders were shaking. But when Ash and I found her, we didn't believe her to be crying. She was just heaving and shaking and remembering things – or rather, the people – who had been taken from her far too long ago.
I had hopped onto Ash's shoulder in the middle of running so we both approached the orange haired female at the exact same time. It was then that the raven haired male's hesitation begun. He lingered by his new friend – their friendship then far too knew to know whether to reach out and touch her or inform her of his company with words. I found it silently touching that he hadn't known all that much of her past but could feel the concern for her in his belly nonetheless. And it was probably the same gut feeling that caused Misty to know that it had been us two to run after her.
The orange haired girl from Cerulean City roughly sniffed from behind her hands and properly sat down on the window sill, still concealing her face for a good few moments. She wanted to compose herself. But I secretly wondered how she was going to do exactly that. She was obviously far braver than I was. Her face finally appeared. It was red and puffy but it wasn't watery. It was frowning. She had a bit of a guard up. That was only natural after the lesson she had had.
"What?" she muttered and although Ash inwardly took a step back, his body didn't move an inch. He was very much unsure how to proceed and very aware that he may end up with his head bitten off. But a part of him didn't care. I didn't either. He knew that she needed a friend. And he knew that he would have to accept whatever reactions she threw at him.
The raven haired male didn't say anything. He merely stood there, his arms hanging by his sides and me on his shoulder. He just looked at Misty. Then he looked away. Then he looked at Misty. And then he looked away again. He kept on repeating that. However, it didn't irritate her. In fact, it almost told her everything that she needed to know. She sniffed. She folded her arms over her chest. But she came out with more words.
"I suppose you've never seen a girl cry before, have you? Well don't get used to it. Because I'm definitely not going back to that classroom ever again after what happened today." Misty informed Ash and she contrasted her sniffle with jutting her chin out defiantly. I felt my paws twitching on Ash's shoulder. I longed to leap onto her one instead but I knew that I had to pick the right moment. I knew I had to be delicate. Unlike how Mallow had unwittingly been. Misty added. "What do you want to know then? You might as well find out for yourself rather than along with everyone else in there. At least you get it straight from me rather than a book. Not that Professor Kukui cares either way."
I could feel my own toes dancing as I was certain that Misty's were in her red and white and yellow sneakers. I looked over at her face and saw it flushing and felt a deep pang of hurt for her. I could very much see how she felt that way but I couldn't help but feel that the man who employed me was better than that. However, there was a man – a young man – right close to me who despite his young age was extremely caring and kind-hearted, albeit a little rash and reckless at times.
The raven haired male had been very quiet in participation in the classroom after her one and only warning and was still being that way even when Misty gave him permission. He looked at her. He knew her to be loud and outspoken to be sure! But he kind of liked that. Because of that, she had been a little bit open with him about some of her life before the Alolan Pokémon school and why like him she went to see the school's counsellor.
Ash Ketchum was being given permission to ask and he was being given permission to ask anything. Of course the words "is it true?" danced across his mind as he longed to ask Misty whether or not he was right about all the things that he had pieced together. Jordan and Lynne were the former gym leaders of Cerulean and they were Misty's parents too. And they had… died?
These musings danced across Ash's mind and Misty's eyes at last pricked with tears, though she did her best to hide it. The raven haired eleven year old boy took a step closer to his new friend. The orange haired female felt a little bit uneasy in her vulnerable state but bit her defensive tongue long enough for Ash's hands to slide in his pockets. He gave her a rather soft smile which turned into a shrug and a sigh. Though his round and brown eyes filled with a sense of maturity I hadn't exactly seen before, he had a child-like openness to them as well.
"Tell me some nice stuff about them. I don't really see how learning all that is going to be of any use to me at all. So you might as well tell me some nice stuff. And really really cool stuff." Ash shrugged once again and at the same moment that I chose to move onto Misty's shoulder instead, he decided to sit down on the floor and sit cross legged. He looked up at the orange haired eleven year old girl. He didn't smile. But he waited. And even Misty could sense his sincerity.
She was a little sceptical at first. She was suddenly hit with the realisation of the display she had put on when she ran out of the classroom and then had been found with her head buried in her hands. It caused her cheeks to redden. Then after she felt me close by her side and she saw the same aged boy on the floor and ready to listen, she couldn't help but feel a little bit consoled about it all. However, she still asked just to make sure.
"What… What kind of stuff do you want me to tell you?" she asked quite doubtfully and while one of her hands went to cup my cheek, the other hand ran through the bangs that were hanging in front of her eyes. Ash replied without a moment of hesitation. His hands clasped together in his lap. He smiled genuinely.
"Whatever you want to tell me." He told her and I found a lump filling my throat when I realised that he had caught onto her disappointed words that one of her teachers had made her feel like she was trapped and that her emotions – her emotions that she didn't like to talk about – still weren't taken into consideration.
I strongly believed that Professor Kukui hadn't pulled her to one side or excluded her from the lesson in order not to alienate her but that moment I felt far more strongly the love in my heart for those two eleven year olds. They had certainly grown from the moments that I had met them. And I had a feeling that they would only continue to grow together.
Misty merely nodded her head following Ash's words but perhaps to wordlessly show her gratitude towards them, she slid down from the window sill and sat beside him instead. I moved to sit between them. I listened out and I waited for Misty to begin. I was very patient about it. All in her own time. She had a face full of hesitance. She had a face full of embarrassment that she may break down again. But she felt almost safe with her friends. And it was only going to be nice things and on her terms. So she began.
"Well… My Dad was crazy. He was really tall and really huge and really strong but he wasn't really like a huge macho man at all if that makes sense. I remember him lifting me up so high… But I remember him dancing with me too. He would always dance with me…" Misty started and anybody could tell that it felt weird referring to him as "were" even before Sophocles at point out. But to go against all emotion that the orange haired female could feel brewing in her throat, Ash's eyes simply widened with intrigue as he listened. He couldn't help but smile. And that made Misty able to play with her bangs and continue even more.
"I remember his laugh… And his smile. His laughter… If I close my eyes and I try not very hard at all, I can see his smile and I can hear his laugh…" Misty added and as if to prove her point and do exactly that, the eleven year old girl's eyes fluttered shut. And then she muttered. It was like a thought that had escaped. But it was a genuine one. Her brow furrowed. "You wouldn't really think I would…"
The raven haired young man nodded his head as if he perfectly understood. I did as well but of course, nobody could really understand all of the details and meaning behind it there and then. Nevertheless, Misty found it within herself to open her eyes then and because she found Ash looking right back at her, she showed off a shaky smile. And Ash, sensing the lingering emotions within her, asked another question. He shuffled a bit towards her.
"And your Mom…? What about your Mom…? I kinda feel like she'd get on with mine…" Ash discovered himself asking and then adding his own insight and I liked that. It was like those two had an understanding of each other while simply being kids and mucking around and not having to say too much at all as they went about their lives in the Alolan school.
The orange haired female went quiet all over again. But that time, it wasn't out of pain or sadness. Of course, she felt those things and in addition to that, part of her felt like she couldn't believe she was being so open about things that she didn't like to talk about at all. But if she thought about them too much then it gave her a headache. So she chose not too!
Instead, she chose to think about things to tell both Ash and I. The raven haired boy's hand went to the top of my head as he listened.
"I don't remember as much about my Mom as I do my Dad…" she admitted and her hand started to make its way to tickle under my chin. Ash managed to stop his shoulders from slumping for her. He instead looked right at her and nodded even so. Misty's stroked on the fur along my jaw was soft and thoughtful as she remembered something. "She was always humming though… And singing too. I always think of light things when I think of her. Like she was a breath of fresh air. My Dad probably would have said she was like a sea breeze. He would have said things like that."
"And what about them together? What about the two of them?" Ash caught me off guard by asking rather promptly and the subject matter caught me by surprise as well. He never normally cared much about people being together – especially if it was a romantic sense! I knew that he had surprised himself at the way he recoiled after Misty's telling eyebrow raise and he leaned back, scratching his own cheek. But he showed off a grin that proved he meant it.
The orange haired female blinked a little bit. But she got right to informing him. There was still part of her that wanted to shut up – for she had done for so long. But there was another part of her – a bigger part of her – that just couldn't stop. It made her feel heard for the first time in a very long time. And I believed it made her feel as though her parents were remembered for the first time in forever.
"They… They were happy together. They had me and my sisters. They had the gym. They had each other. Life isn't easy. I don't think life ever was easy for them. But they had each other. It… It sucks that they're not here… But they're both not here… Only proving how natural it was for them to be together."
Ash didn't know whether to nod his head or shake his head or frown or widen his eyes. So he did nothing. I didn't do anything either. For a good while, neither of us two did anything. And then we decided to nod our heads. It was a deep thought for an eleven year old to have. But I had to guess that she understood that her parents were always destined to be together. And even if they weren't around for her. She just had to pray and hope that they were around for each other – wherever they had ended up.
There wasn't anything that Ash could have possibly said to add to Misty's words or comfort her or amuse her so for once, he decided to say nothing at all. I got the impression that he used his touch to convey his understanding in a way and he used it on me. He reached his hand back out to my head at the same time that the orange haired female did as well.
Both of their hands touched together. They recoiled like I had sparked them both! But then they looked at each other and allowed their hands to go back. They both very much stroked the top of my head. But their pinkies passed each other with every little gesture. And then they stopped there. They stopped there on the top of my head. I tried not to look up. They very nearly locked their fingers over each other's – I felt it.
Then Ash glanced behind him at the classroom as if he had heard or felt something. It caused Misty to swallow and pull her hand away for good. The start of that defensive frown took over her face all over again. It started to catch up with her the surprise and conflicting emotions of how much she had opened up to the same aged boy. She cleared her throat, flicking her bangs from her eyes.
"You should probably go back in there. I'm not. I'm not going back in there. But you probably wanna learn all the proper stuff. So I'm not going to stop you." The orange haired female told the raven haired male in between blinking her eyes as if she didn't care the response that he was going to have. I did. I glanced between them both. And I witnessed Ash having rather the unexpected reaction. I knew that he had a snarky and stubborn side but I didn't know that his oomph could live up to Misty's!
I saw Ash give Misty a very near eye roll and then a brow furrow before he settled with an unmoving smirk. He looked right at her, reaching for his baseball cap and flipping it backwards with defiance as he insisted.
"I told you, hearing all of that isn't going to serve me at all. I will much better learn all the cool stuff and the nice stuff." He pointed out to her and while Misty remained doubtful and silent and reached her hand to adjust her side ponytail, Ash suddenly stood up and reached for her wrist before she could stop him. He checked behind him towards the classroom once again and then he grinned. "Let's go to the library and read all about the Cerulean Gym. You can teach me the important stuff. I'm hardly going to pass this semester without your help, am I?"
I glanced up and I felt as though Ash was wording everything to persuade Misty but the more that I looked the more that I realised that his sincerity was shining through. He meant every word. The orange haired female was a little bit suspicious and she tilted her head, trying not to look at the way that her friend was holding onto her.
But then she couldn't deny herself that he was absolutely right! He wasn't going to pass without her help at all. And not that she expressed it, but she felt as though his openness and his optimism were going to be a help to her as well.
Misty surprised herself and she surprised me by not only nodding her head and standing up with him but switching to tug him by the gloved hand instead. Ash showed off the beginnings of a blush. But then the two eleven year olds showed off the heart of mutual grins. The orange haired female stuck her nose in the air. And then she prepared to tug him away to the library.
"Yeah, you're completely stuffed without me. You would've had to face up to my Dad on your journey to trying to be a Pokémon Master so you better learn all about him instead…" Misty paused and I had just enough time to hop back onto her shoulder before the two of them headed down the stairs for good. Naturally, Ash was listening. The orange haired female's nose in the air turned into a crinkle of certainty. And it was wonderful to see after everything that had happened in the classroom. "Because you'll learn more than ever – that you can't mess with us Williams'!"
And as Ash was tugged down towards the library with his headstrong red headed new good friend, he found himself answering without missing a beat. With the other hand he scratched his cheek. But he meant every word.
"Believe me, I think I know that already." He admitted to her and even though it was said with light-heartedness and insinuation to the way that she was tugging him so, I couldn't help but smile and laugh and beam and feel that it was even more fitting than the two of them realised.
During that day, Misty had gone from putting on a brave but disinterested act to coming face to face with her family history to opening up about the better moments of it. She had felt trapped by her reality. She had felt weakened by her emotions. And then she had felt strengthened by simply having someone there to listen.
And that was all anyone ever needed, really; just someone to listen. I had absolutely learnt that during my time as the Alolan School Pokémon Pet but I learnt it all the more hanging around with my two best friends'.
They were certainly going to have a wonderful future together of laughing and battling and bickering and talking and understanding. But not only that but in a way, they were going to have a past together too when they got real about the things that had led them to attending that Pokémon School. They were going to end up with everything that they wanted. From their experience. From their future. From each other. Firm friends were going to turn into fast family. I knew that that was another thing that couldn't be stopped. And I simply couldn't wait to be a part of that ride!
The End.
There you go! Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed :3 I'm a little on the fence over how Professor Kukui could have handled all of that. I feel very strongly for Misty and protective that she should have been excused from that lesson. However on the other hand, she's certain to feel alienated from her upbringing anyway so that would definitely make things worse if she was absent from the classroom while everyone else was present. Ash's wisdom here is very apparent. It's not something that is obvious but it's what Misty greatly needs. Her parents passing on when she was 4 and 6 years old was naturally very traumatic so she benefits from someone to add a little lighthearted-ness to it. I always really like writing this AU. And you can tell by this being my third time! Thanks again for reading and I will be back next Wednesday for the last Pikachu Tales chapter for PokeShipping Month. See you then :P
AmyBieberKetchum signing out!