Two chapters in one day? What are the odds? Oh well, enjoy this anyway, and I hope I was able to keep the suspense going. Oh yeah, I don't own anything except the story.
_

Chapter 6

Misty's POV

My tongue felt tied as I stared at the figure standing in my doorway, I honestly thought I was dreaming, it just didn't make sense. "A-Ash? Is it really you?"

Ash winked at me, and I felt my heartbeat pick up speed as my disbelief started to fade. "Of course it's me, did you think it was Team Rocket or something?"

"B-But, how - I mean when...what are you doing here?" I was still having a hard time believing it was real, but nevertheless, here was Ash Ketchum standing in front of me.

Ash's POV

"Thank goodness for puberty. I don't have to look up to see her face anymore; I must be her height at least." I only took a moment to be satisfied with that, as I turned to my partner who was smiling at me from my shoulder. "She still seems like she doesn't believe it, Pikachu," I grinned slyly. "Wanna give her a Thundershock to prove it?"

"Don't you dare, Ash Ketchum!"

I chuckled at Misty's expression change and grinned innocently. "Well, can I come in or what?" Misty's expression changed again as she invited me into the gym.

Misty's POV

I let Ash walk in first, and it was then I noticed how much he had grown. And if I looked real close, I could swear that I could see some muscle tone starting to appear on his arms. After walking into the gym, I turned to face Ash. I had so many questions…but I thought that they should wait until I got used to the fact that he was here. "Well, Ash, it's good to see you, but I'm still having trouble believing that you're actually here."

He grinned at me mischievously. "That Thundershock is still available if you want it." Pikachu's cheeks started to spark playfully at his response.

I ignored the little jab, but I could feel the corners of my mouth starting to turn upwards. "Well it feels good to see you without having to look down, it makes things less awkward." My hand flew to my mouth once I realized what I had said. "Why did I just say that?! Have I lost my mind?!" I cleared my throat to regain my composure, and I saw that Ash had his hand behind his head.

"Well, to be honest," he chuckled. "The feeling is mutual since I don't have to look up anymore."

Ash's POV

"Wow, she's so pretty. I never really stopped to notice that before…I missed a lot." My cheeks turned a little pink when she mentioned my height, and my hand immediately flew to the back of my head. That was its favorite place to go whenever I got embarrassed. Well, one compliment deserved another. "Well, to be honest, the feeling is mutual since I don't have to look up anymore." Misty giggled after I said that. She had the sweetest laugh, and she had her hair down. It looked best that way, except now it was a lot longer, flowing down past her shoulders, apparently she'd grown it out over the years...somehow it really suited her. "And it looks like I'm not the only thing that's grown." Misty's eyes grew wide and her face turned beet red, although I didn't know why. I reached behind her and played with a lock of her red hair. I just couldn't help myself, it was so pretty I had to touch it. I just hoped she wouldn't pound me because of it.

Misty's POV

"And it looks like I'm not the only thing that's grown."

I blushed at that statement and reeled back a little. "W-What does he mean by that?" I watched his hand head for the back of my head, and I felt his hand suddenly take hold of a lock of my hair, and I sighed internally. "Oh, he's feeling my hair. He was talking about my hair." But just as quickly as the relief came over me, I felt my heart begin to race again when I realized what he was doing. "Wait, Ash Ketchum is playing with my hair!" The urge to just give in to his touch was incredible, but I couldn't let him know he was affecting me that way. Now was a good time to start asking questions, since my blush was starting to become uncontrollable. "S-So," I backed up a few steps and replaced my hair. "How'd you get here, Ash? The Sinnoh Region isn't exactly across the street."

"You can thank Charizard for that," Ash chuckled and shook his head a bit. "He gave it his all to get here." I could tell just from the smile on his face that he was proud of his friend for his effort. That was classic Ash. Proud of his Pokémon no matter what.

"Pikachupi!" (Misty!)

I turned my head a little and directed my attention to the pouting electric-type on Ash's shoulder. "Oh yeah, how can I forget you, Pikachu?" I opened my arms for Pikachu, and he quickly hopped off of Ash's shoulder and jumped into my arms for a hug. Pikachu squealed with glee as I hugged him tightly. "It's good to see you too."

"Chaaaa!"

I looked back up at the mouse's trainer and smiled at him. "So why are you here, Ash?" I had no idea that the incoming answer would have so much to do with me.

Ash's POV

"So why are you here Ash?"

I gulped a little. "What do I tell her?" After a moment of pondering what I would answer, I decided to go with a half-truth. "Well, to be honest, I've really missed you Misty, so I decided to stop by."

Misty's POV

"Well, to be honest, I've really missed you Misty, so I decided to stop by."

"He missed me?" I closed my eyes a moment. "Probably as a friend, nothing more." I figured he meant only as a friend, but even as a friend, I was flattered. "Well…I – I missed you too…actually."

"Really?"

"Really." I could feel my blush growing stronger, and if I didn't know any better, it almost looked like Ash was blushing too. I suddenly felt the urge to pull him into a tight hug, but then we were interrupted.

"Hey, what's going on here?" I turned around to see Daisy walking over, and I immediately tried to get my blush under control. "Hey! It's Misty's boyfriend!"

I scowled at that and turned on my sister. "He's not my boyfriend!" I was surprised when I didn't hear Ash deny it as well. When I looked over at him, he had his head down as if he was trying to hide something.

"Are you sure? He doesn't look like he wants to deny it with you."

I was really getting ticked at my sister.

Ash's POV

It hurt to hear Misty deny it so quickly. At this point, I definitely wouldn't have minded being Misty's boyfriend. But now was not the right time to say something. I had a plan, and it was now or never. I shook my head a little and put on a determined expression as I addressed the eldest Waterflower. "So, Daisy, when was the last time you had a Pokémon battle?"

I wasn't surprised when I saw both Misty and Daisy reel back at my question, especially Daisy since she clearly didn't expect me to be talking to her much at all, let alone asking a question like that. "Uh...that was a week ago, with Misty."

Then Misty stepped up. "Ash, if you want to have a battle, I'd be happy to oblige."

"Please don't hammer me for this." I gulped and steeled myself as I stepped past the redhead. "Thanks, Misty, but I want to see if you're not the only Waterflower who can battle."

I cringed when her scowl reached what must've been an all-time intensity. "Fine! Be that way!" I watched Misty stomp up the stairs into the stands. She still had Pikachu, so I knew she wouldn't go anywhere. But it hurt to see her mad at me.

Ignoring the pang in my chest, I turned back towards the taller woman and smirked at her. "So what do you say, Daisy, wanna have a battle?"

"Well, I don't know, I'm not really in the mood."

I grinned. "Oh fine, wait until the people in Cerulean hear that the Sensational Sisters are chicken!"

Suddenly Daisy scowled as well, and all of a sudden I could actually see how she and Misty were related. "Now wait a minute, twerp! Nobody insults me! You want a battle?! Bring it on!"

"Yes." My plan was coming to fruition.

Misty's POV

Why would Ash prefer to fight my sister instead of me? I would be more of a challenge anyway! Moments later, I saw Daisy rushing up the steps to meet me. "Hey Misty, can I borrow your Pokémon? Dewgong wasn't feeling great today."

I growled. "Do what you want! I don't care!"

"Thanks sis!" she chirped.

I growled a little louder this time. I was mad at the whole situation; I didn't even realize I still had Pikachu until he said my name.

"Pikachupi?" (Misty?)

I blinked and looked down at the electric-type nestled in my arms. "Oh, sorry, Pikachu, do you want to go down there with Ash?" I was surprised when Pikachu shook his head no, but I wouldn't complain, at least I had some company while I watched the battle, since Azurill was taking a nap in my room.

Normal POV

Ash and Daisy took their respective places on the ends of the pool, and then Ash called out the rules. "Three-on-three match sound ok?"

"Sounds good, let's do it!"

"Alright," the raven-haired trainer reached for a Pokéball and threw it out. "Chimchar, I choose you!" Ash called out his small fire-type, who looked ahead with determination. "You're going to be facing another water-type Chimchar, so be ready!"

"Chim char!" (Got it!)

"Is that a fire-type Pikachu?" Misty asked.

Pikachu nodded. "Pika pika pi pi pi ka chu." (Yep, it's a long story too.)

"I guess Ash has something up his sleeve."

"Ok, Staryu, get out there!" Daisy called out Misty's sea-star Pokémon, who looked around for its master once it was released.

"I'm up here Staryu!" Misty called out with a wave. "You do what she tells you alright?"

"Hyahh!" (Roger!) Staryu went into a battle-ready stance.

"Hey, Chimchar," the monkey turned to face his master, and he nodded at whatever his trainer whispered in his ear. Then he turned back around and glared determinedly at Staryu. "I'll start it off!" Ash shouted. "Chimchar use Flame Wheel!" Chimchar enveloped himself in fire and rammed towards the star-shaped water-type.

"Okay, Staryu, use Water Gun!" Staryu launched a powerful stream of water from its top point, and countered Chimchar's Flame Wheel as the liquid sent the monkey flying back to where he came from.

"You okay, Chimchar?"

"Chim chim char!" (I'm fine, let's go!) Chimchar hopped back to his feet and got back into a battle-ready stance.

"Okay, Staryu, use Bubblebeam!" Staryu fired a stream of bubbles from its top point, and it nailed Chimchar hard...and then Chimchar fell limply to the ground with his eyes closed.

"Aah! Chimchar!"

"Chimchar is unable to battle, the winner is Staryu!" The referee exclaimed.

"Hey," Daisy beamed. "We won!"

"Doesn't it feel good?" Ash said as he returned his fallen fire-type to his Pokéball.

"Yeah, it kinda does!"

"Well, get ready for round two! Staravia, I choose you!" Ash called out his flying type, and the bird emerged and hovered by her trainer when he waved her over. "Same strategy as Chimchar, Staravia. You got it?" The bird nodded, and Ash immediately went on the attack. "Staravia, use Aerial Ace!" Staravia did a flip in the air and charged towards Staryu at incredible speed.

"Dodge it, Staryu!" Staryu jumped into the water to avoid the attack. "Now use Water Gun again!"

"Dodge it, and then use Quick Attack!" Staravia flew out of the way of the incoming Water Gun, and then charged towards Staryu at lightning speed.

"Use Rapid Spin!" Staryu began spinning at super speed, and rammed towards the bird at a speed which almost matched Staravia's. The two collided, and both Staryu and Staravia fell to the water, fainted.

"Both Pokémon are unable to battle! This round is a draw!"

"Return, Staryu." Daisy returned the sea star to its Pokéball.

"Staravia, return." Ash returned his bird to her Pokéball, "You did a nice job, take a good rest." Ash placed the full Pokéball on his belt and looked up to talk to his opponent. "So, Daisy, you having fun yet?"

"Actually, yeah!" the eldest Sensational Sister grinned. "Battling is actually way more fun than I thought it'd be!"

"Well get ready for round three!" Ash took his final Pokéball off his belt and launched it. "Turtwig, I choose you!" Ash called out his grass-type, who got into a battle-ready stance the second he hit dry land. "Let's do it, Turtwig!"

"Twiiig!" (Alright!)

"Okay, Gyarados, let's go!" Daisy called out Misty's most powerful Pokémon, and the water/flying-type unleashed a mighty roar that actually intimidated Turtwig upon release. Gyarados then looked around for his trainer, but instead he heard Daisy speak up. "I'm using you today, Gyarados, Misty's in the stands!" Gyarados turned to the stands and saw Misty waving apathetically, and so the dragon nodded and got into a battle-ready stance. "Alright, use that Flamethrower of yours!"

Instead of retaliating, Ash winked at Turtwig, who nodded in understanding. He braced himself for the attack and immediately got enveloped by the flames, then he fell to the ground and pretended to be fainted, giving Daisy the victory. "Turtwig is unable to battle, the winner is Gyarados, and the match goes to Daisy Waterflower of Cerulean Gym!" With that announcement, Daisy jumped for joy and cheered at the top of her lungs.

"Turtwig, return." Ash smiled and returned the grass-type to his Pokéball. "Hey, nice acting job buddy, take a nice rest." he whispered. Then he placed the ball back on his belt, and met Daisy by the side of the pool. He grinned when he noticed the ecstatic expression on the tall woman's face. "So did you enjoy that battle?"

"Yeah! I've gotta do that more often!"

But the mood quickly darkened when Misty stomped down from the stands, glaring at them both with eyes filled with rage. "Well, Ash Ketchum, I hope you're satisfied with yourself!" She then shoved Pikachu into Ash's arms, and ran up the stairs to her room.

Stunned by the outburst, Daisy slowly turned back to Ash after watching her little sister storm off. "Do you want me to go talk to her?"

Ash shook his head with a grim expression. "No, I'll do it." The jet-black haired trainer turned towards the stairs and took a deep breath...his mission had just gotten that much harder. "This was the risk that came with my plan; I hope that I can fix this the way I had hoped to."