Hello, it is the 28th and I am back with a new chapter! We have a pretty simple chapter today - I wanted to make things easy for myself because I have been writing and editing and reading so much recently! In this chapter, Misty writes her vows to Ash on their wedding day. As you will see, at first she has some trouble getting it right, but then memories take over :) I hope you enjoy!
Ash, standing in front of you today I-
No. No, that's not right at all. I know I can do better than this.
Never in my wildest dreams, Ash, did I imagine that you would be the one that I ended up with. When we were ten years old, we-
No, I can't say that. Why can't I get this right? Everything just sounds so wrong. So generic.
As I gaze upon you now, Ash-
God, I cannot imagine saying that in front of so many people! Why am I being like this? Every sentence that I write, even if it is only the beginning, I know that is not what I want to say at all.
I know that I shouldn't matter what anyone else thinks. These words are for me and my future husband only.
Heh... My husband... Never did I think I would ever get one of them. But I would be lying if I said it is absurd to me that it ended up being Ash. All the signs were there, even if I did not dare to admit them at ten years old.
I pulled this kid out of a river and my life changed forever. Maybe I should start with that.
Let me try again.
Ash, as I stand in front of you now, I cannot help but think of the ten-year-olds that we once were together. The day that you came into my life, I pulled you out of a river. To me, that is the greatest metaphor for you entering my world – I positively yanked you into it!
What began as bickering mellowed to friendship. Alongside so many brilliant people, at the ages of ten years old we began journeying across the world. But above all the interesting creatures we met, the stories that we were able to be a part of, it is the friendship that you offered me that stands out the most.
We have always been ourselves together, haven't we, you, and me? Even when our travels took us in separate directions when it was time for you to continue on your way and for me to go back home, your influence on my life was stronger than ever. The things you taught me; the strength you encouraged in me and the laughter you had shared with me gave me the drive to do whatever I wanted.
And that has never stopped.
Ash, there is simply nobody else that I want on my team other than you. To be my other half. The word grateful pales to insignificance compared to the joy that I feel knowing that now – at twenty-five years old – we have been able to embark on even more thrilling adventures together than the ones we experienced when we were children.
I never dreamed of being a mother. But when you helped me realize an unrecognized dream and together, we brought that vision to reality, I saw that there were parts of me left unexplored and that thrilled me. Thanks to you, Ash, the adventures could continue. And getting to parent Ben and Katie together has been the most beautiful dream come true of all.
You've always seen me, as I've always seen you. With your help, I always know where to go. With your love, I always know which parts of me must come to the surface. I pulled you out of a river all those years ago. But every day I feel like I am breaking through the water, breathing for the first time because of everything you have given me.
It feels like a cliche to call you my best friend as well as my future husband but that is the case. Above all, though, you are the greatest teammate in life that I could ever wish for and not even my wildest dreams could have created somebody as wonderful as you to love me in the way that I know you always have done.
I vow to always learn from you – because the way that you turn ideas into adventures never ceases to amaze me! I vow to continue to push you to be the greatest version of yourself. I vow to never take the gift of our children for granted and the fact that you helped me become a mother and along with our two children, more me than I ever have been before.
I vow to listen to your dreams so closely and believe in them so strongly that they might as well be my own. I vow to honor you, nurture you and adore you for the rest of my days. And I vow to find you over and over again – whether it's tugging you out of your doubts – or it is yanking you out of a river!
Standing here in front of our loved ones, I am so grateful to share this life with you and for people to witness just how much we mean to each other. But they all knew that a long time before our stubborn selves could see it! Standing in front of you now, I see the ten-year-old that you once were. But I also see the man that you have become, and I feel so proud to have been able to watch you grow.
Thank you for growing up alongside me, Ash. Now, I cannot wait to grow old with you. And embrace all the adventures that await us.
Nailed it!
At least, I think so.
I need to show this to Pikachu...
There you go, thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! So yeah, pretty straight forward one today but I did enjoy getting back in the headspace of some sweet Ash and Misty. It really reminded me of something I would have written for my early work :3 I think it's both easy and difficult to sum up their relationship, as Misty too discovered. They certainly have a basis of friendship at the core of their relationship and parenting journey, and that helps them fall in love with each other over and over! Thank you again for reading and I will be back in March to update Pikachu Tales so if you read that one of mine too, perhaps I will see you there!
Amy signing out :P