Chapter 26: Misty's Refrain

Ash and Sue had spent the few days on their honeymoon after their marriage. They swam in the ocean, enjoyed tropical drinks, built sandcastles and had romantic walks on the beach as newlyweds. Delia and Lucia, having Touya and Ash using Gate, visited and made some meals. Pikachu visited alongside Delia. Back at the mansion, Delia looked to the partially cloudy sky with Pikachu in her arms. "I know it feels really soon to say it, but I'm actually proud of Ash marrying someone he loves," she admitted. "Of course, I thought Misty would be Ash's possible girlfriend before she said all of that."

("She didn't want Ash to hear it,") asked Pikachu.

"Well, I wanted to tell Ash about what it takes to love someone," she admitted. "Not to mention what it takes to have kids of his own. I mean, it was a handful raising Ash alone." Linze heard Delia and joined her outside with Jigglypuff.

"You may have done a better job raising Ash than I might," she spoke up. Delia and Pikachu turned to Linze.

"You're still some ways away from the thought of having kids," she warned.

"Maybe, but we are still a little eager to marry Touya," Linze pointed out. "Yumina, Lucia, Hildegard, Leen… not to mention my sister."

"I don't blame you," Delia assured. "Touya is indeed something of a messiah that I read about in the library after he and Ash rescued us." Pikachu shook his head to the claim.

("Messiah sounds too strong,") he denied. Linze giggled to Pikachu's reply.

"We're not calling Ash a messiah, right?" she teased. Suddenly, Muk emerged and leaped onto Linze to smother. Linze yelped at the sudden strike. "Muk, stop!" Muk continued to try to tackle Linze while Delia and Pikachu sighed in fluster.

"Muk, you don't need to smother everyone," she sighed. Pikachu hopped down as Heracross reached the group. He and Pikachu tried to save Linze from Muk. Suddenly, a Gate opened. Ash and Sue soon arrived. "Welcome back, you two. Is the honeymoon over?"

"It is, but we had fun," Sue smiled. Muk came off of Linze before it tackled the newlyweds. Rather than struggle, Ash and Sue took Muk's affection in stride.

"Someone was anxious to see us!" he laughed. Muk garbled in delight. Linze sighed, flustered from Muk's embrace.

"Anyway, Sue…" spoke Delia. "While you and Ash were getting cozy away, I managed to finish a new outfit for you." Sue awed the news of new clothes.

"Mrs. K- I mean, Mother!" she corrected herself. "You shouldn't have!" Delia giggled to Sue's quick correction.

"It's hard to change so soon after you and Ash married, so I understand," she forgave.

"I'd have a bit of a tough time calling the Duchess Mom myself," Ash understood.

"Yeah, and I can't wait to be a big sister," Sue giggled. "Anyway, can I see what you made?"

"Absolutely!" agreed Delia. She led Sue inside the mansion, leaving Ash and the Pokémon with Linze.

"The way you and Sue were so close throughout your time," she spoke. "I only wish it was that easy when Touya and I marry."

"Not to mention that you're not the only one," Ash recalled. "Still, I believe Touya will give you what you need to be happy." Linze smiled to Ash's trust.

"Part of me has a feeling that maybe I shouldn't have been hasty to fall for Touya. Sure, Yumina was the first to declare to marry him, but Elze and I felt that we might not have anywhere to go."

"It's okay… and besides, all of you can visit the Pokémon World whenever you want." The Pokémon agreed to Ash's take.

"As long as Muk doesn't jump onto me. I understand that he's pretty affectionate, but there are limits to that he shouldn't cross." Muk whined at the denial. Ash and the Pokémon reentered the mansion before he entered the foyer where Tristwin, Cloud and Alfred stood with Touya. Oak was coming from upstairs.

"Ash, my… son…" hesitated Alfred. "Excuse me, my… son-in-law."

"I know, it kinda feels weird for me to say Dad after not having a dad for about all of my life," Ash confessed.

"Regardless," Cloud voiced. "Touya spoke to us in saying that you're going back to your land very soon, and to your other friends… albeit one receiving her comeuppance."

"Now, you shouldn't be so hard on Misty," Oak advised as he and Mimey reached the rest.

"Are you excusing her words that she directed to Prince Ash?" questioned Alfred.

"It's not that, it was just poor timing on her part as he was talking to me," Oak mentioned. "Should she have said those things about Ash, of course not! It was just a matter of wrong place, wrong time!"

"Believe me, Mom will give her a talking-to," Ash assured. "At least she won't face the same thing as Dacia and Jessie." Oak snickered to the punishment of the former queen and member of Team Rocket.

"Anyway, what did you want him for?" he asked.

"Yes, well…" voiced Tristwin. "We've been discussing the future in regards of my niece and my new nephew-in-law. We feel that in many years, there will be a new kingdom in their name. To prepare for a new kingdom, we wanted to ask if there are any specifics to what a kingdom would be like." Ash and Pikachu gasped to the news of his own kingdom being established.

"Whoa, a kingdom for me and Sue?" he awed.

"Granted, the process may take 10-20 years to complete," Alfred estimated. "What we would like to know is if there are any specifications that you'd like your new kingdom to have; anything that you'd want to make your kingdom unique." Ash itched his nose, awe-struck to the offer.

"Gosh, what could I want for a kingdom like this?" he wondered.

"You've always been a competitor, especially to Gary," Oak suggested. "Not to mention that you've battled in the Indigo Stadium and in the arena on Pummelo Island."

"Oh, so a stadium of some sort?"

"Think about it, you're always there for the action."

"Yeah, that's true." It took a moment for Touya to realize an idea.

"I think I can help with that," he offered as he brought his smartphone out. "These are pictures of a Colosseum that I once fought in." He uploaded pictures of the bowl, the stands, the field and the scaffolding.

"Oh, these can work!" awed Ash.

("Imagine what can be done with that!") awed Pikachu. Touya put his smartphone away.

"Hopefully, that can bring some excitement to your new kingdom," Touya believed.

"Indeed," Cloud agreed. "Anything else? Maybe a location to where you want the castle to be?" That had Ash start to think before an idea came to Delia who overheard the proposal.

"Ash, you've been one who enjoys the water," she voiced. "Maybe one that overlooks a beach-side might help." Everyone turned to see Delia and Sue, now wearing a pink short sleeve jacket over a white shirt, pink skirt, knee-high socks and new shoes. Ash and Pikachu awed Sue's new look, though nothing noted more than the necklace from the mission in Reflet.

"Mom, what have you done to her?" he joked. Sue laughed, knowing her husband's behavior.

"Come on, Ash," Delia smiled. "You know I wanted to make your wife look presentable when you two are back Pokémon Training."

"Not to mention how gorgeous this necklace looks on me," Sue brought up.

"Yeah, the Sage's Soul Pendant," Touya realized. "Leim found it out before the wedding that whoever wears it unlocks all of the attributes of magic. Sue already has Light, but with that… all six and Null Magic are at her disposal."

"I suppose a magic user as powerful as Ash deserves an equally powerful significant other," Tristwin teased.

"Hopefully, not too powerful," Oak wished. Sue, Ash and Pikachu laughed to the case.

"Anyway, a kingdom with a Colosseum within and your castle on a mountainside facing the ocean," Alfred assessed. "We appreciate your input. Now, I heard that you're on your way back to your other friends. We wish you the best in your journeys with my daughter… son."

"And that we're offering our support to your success," Cloud added.

"Thanks, all of you," Ash praised. After their time with the other kings and Alfred, the Ketchums and Professor Oak were joined by Touya and the other girls, including…

"Micah!?" gasped Touya.

"Tempest told me that you're back," Micah briefed. "And after hearing about Ash's Dimensional Gate spell, I told my father that I'm stepping away for a little while." Ash's Beasts came to him to where he and Sue knelt to them.

"Master…" spoke Bajra.

"Guys, I'm gonna miss you," Ash somberly said. "I know you guys have been freed after 5,000 years, and you protected me… but so do the good people of Brunhild."

"Why can't we go with you?" asked Duster.

"You can and maybe see Togepi to see what he looks like," Ash offered. The beasts awed the idea.

"We'd like to see the world you're from," Storm wished. Delia seemed ready to return to her home.

"So, after we reunite with Misty and Brock," she voiced to Ash. "Will you use that Gate to bring me and Professor Oak back to Pallet?"

"I will," Ash promised.

"And I'd like to bring Wukong and Tempest home with me," Delia added.

"Oh, we can come and see Pallet Town?" believed Tempest.

"Yeah, the real home of our Master," Wukong added. With everyone ready, Touya had Ash ready to go.

"Ash, would you do the honors?" he requested. Ash nodded before he had his arms out.

'Misty, Brock, let's get back together,' he thought. "DIMENSIONAL GATE!" The Gate opened and everyone saw the Pokémon Center. "That's it! That's the Pokémon Center I was at before I came to Brunhild!"

"Then, we're on the right track!" believed Elze. They all entered the Gate before it vanished. Nurse Joy opened the door to see the group.

"Oh my!" she gasped. Hearing Joy, Ash turned and waived her over.

"Nurse Joy!" he called out.

"Ash, what happened!?" asked Joy. "How did you survive that lightning strike?" Misty and Brock also emerged.

"Nurse Joy…" awed Ash. "I'm… not quite sure how, but I did." Togepi cheered as he scampered outside and to the group. Pikachu became excited to be reunited with the Spike Ball Pokémon.

("TOGEPI!") he cheered as he hoisted Togepi.

"So, you're really back!" cheered Brock. Ash turned to Misty and Brock as Pikachu also eyed the two friends he was separated from.

"Yep," Ash confirmed. "And boy, what a journey to get back to you guys."

"That's for sure," Misty started as she picked Togepi back up and Elze joined the group. Oak came to Joy to explain the situation. "I'm actually glad that you're okay."

"At least," Ash giggled. Brock pinched and rubbed the tunic sleeve.

"Is this a tunic?" he guessed.

"It is, and Touya's the same under his coat," Elze added. Brock and Misty turned to Elze, a new face to them.

"Who's Touya?" asked Misty.

"And who are you?" asked Brock.

"This is Elze Siloueska," Ash identified. "She's one of several girls that helped me after I was found in their world."

"If you think Ash is impressive, you should see the Beasts that he released," Elze pointed out as Sue and Bajra came to Pikachu and Togepi.

"I finally get to see you, Togepi!" cheered Sue.

"It's pretty adorable to view," Bajra awed. Togepi came to Sue who picked him up.

"It's like I'm holding a baby!" she cooed. "Oh, I can't wait to be a big sister like Yumina will be!" Togepi shrilled at the new girl as Yumina came by.

"I can't argue with that or this bundle of joy, cousin!" she agreed as Renne also came to see the Spike Ball Pokémon. Yumina petted the top of Togepi as he awed the attention.

"Your moms are expecting?" questioned Brock.

"They are," Sue mentioned. "Of course, Yumina's the princess of her kingdom while I'm the daughter of a Duchess." Brock gasped to the identities.

"A princess!?" he repeated before calming down dramatically. "While I want to take your word for it, I'm not gonna push it anymore than that." Yumina and Sue giggled to Brock's reaction.

"And you must be Brock," Yumina guessed. "Ash showed all of us a picture of you."

"Oh, that had to be the one with Todd in it, right?" assumed Brock.

"Yup," Sue mentioned. "Hold on, I wanna show Togepi to the rest." She ran off with Togepi in her arms.

"Wait, don't go too far!" warned Misty. Seeing Togepi, the girls awed and held him. Lucia and Yae gave Togepi kisses while Linze summoned bubbles for Misty's Pokémon to play with.

"They're definitely a happy bunch," Elze laughed. "We might all be once we marry Touya." Misty and Brock gawked to the news.

"You're all getting married to that one guy!?" gasped Brock.

"We've all been in love with Touya," Yumina clarified. "He's helped all of us, he's powerful… He has his Heavenly Beasts…" She hoisted Kohaku to show Misty and Brock. "Which includes Kohaku here."

"At least it's not Meowth," Kohaku mewed.

"Yeah, we're figuring it out," Brock gulped.

"Speaking of, what happened to Team Rocket?" asked Misty. "They're not gone, are they?"

"Well, yes and no," Ash replied. "Jessie's a slave to a harsh kingdom, and James and Meowth have found new lives." Misty snickered to Jessie's fate.

"She's not really one to work too hard," she teased. "But what are Mrs. Ketchum and Professor Oak doing here?"

"About that," Yumina addressed. "Ash was actually practicing Gate magic when he opened it into her restaurant. They followed and we got to know them, including Heracross and Muk." On cue, Muk came over Brock and slammed him to the ground. Everyone gasped to the strike. Brock laughed it off.

"I bet you wanted to Body Slam me when you had the chance," he believed. Muk chuckled as well. Micah came to Brock, concerned about his well-being.

"Are you okay?" she feared. As if he had renewed strength, Brock sprung back to his feet and clasped his hands to Micah.

"A rose has appeared before me!" he swooned. "Miss, I appreciate the kind gesture. Now, I must return one to you! Let me be the one with the broom to sweep you off your feet!" Ash and Misty sighed to Brock's shenanigan.

"No wonder he hasn't been lucky," Elze joked. However, Micah hoisted Brock to her.

"That is one of the sweetest things anyone has ever said to me!" she returned. Ash and the girls gawked to Micah's praise. "I am Micah. I'm the manager of the Silver Moon Inn… but maybe I can manage some time with you." Brock's eyes, though squinted, lit up.

"You're giving me a chance!?" he gasped. "I promise that I will not disappoint!" Micah hugged Brock, hoping for this to be love. Ash, Misty and Pikachu gawked to Micah and Brock finding love with each other.

"Well, it seems as though Brock's inn with Micah," Kohaku punned.

"At least they'll have as much time as Ash and Sue had," Yumina added. Misty blinked before turning to Yumina.

"Ash and Sue?" she repeated.

"Yeah, see…" voiced Touya as he approached. "After Ash and Sue met, the chemistry was there and after a few situations, they're married." Ash nodded and Misty became gobsmacked. Sue came back while Renne held Togepi.

"Someone mention me?" she asked.

"We did, dear," Ash replied.

"You're Sue?" gawked Misty.

"Yep," Sue happily agreed. "I'm Sushie Ernea Ortlinde-Ketchum, Daughter of Duke Alfred Ernes Ortlinde and Ash's wife." Misty's jaw dropped at the news. However, she recovered quickly before turning to Ash.

"How could you!?" she snapped. "How could you get yourself a girl, let alone get married to her?! You don't even know the meaning of love!" Suddenly, an ominous sense came over Misty. She realized that she was overheard. Turning, she found Delia and the girls scowling over her. Renne came to Brock and Micah with Togepi.

"I sense a bloodbath coming," Touya shuttered. Delia was the first to stare daggers at Misty.

"Answer me this, Misty!" she growled. "If you say that Ash wouldn't know what love is if it smacked him in the face, then how do you explain why he's such a kind and honest young man!?" Misty trembled to Delia's anger.

"Well…" she stuttered. "That is… uh…"

"Want to know why that is?! Because I raised him with nothing but love! That's why… and here's another: If you say that Ash doesn't know anything about love, then how do you explain why Pikachu and the rest of his Pokémon are all so very happy to have them as their trainer?!"

"That's because… well… you see… ummm…"

"Because Ash loves them all, that's why… and in return, Pikachu and the other Pokémon all love him back! Young lady, you had some nerve to say that my son doesn't know what love is after all!"

"A person without love doesn't deserve a reason to deny love!" scorned Linze.

"And you call yourself Ash's friend!" growled Lucia.

"Such a mouth has no value to the heart!" mulled Yae.

"The shame must be full to tarnish a friendship that you had," Hildegard murmured.

"Love has conquered nothing that you've distilled!" snapped Yumina.

"Words repeated to show disdain to someone has a heart with holes never to fill," Leen grunted. Misty felt the harsh rebuttal and collapsed to her knees. Touya whistled before shaking his head.

"Somethings are better left unsaid," he said. Misty cried; her words now shoved in her face.

"I know what she said was rather harsh, but that seems like overkill," Joy gulped.

"Yet, she needed to learn that the hard way," Oak briefed. Ash opened Gate to allow Delia and Oak to return to Pallet Town. However, Touya managed to copy Ash's spell to return to Brunhild and Micah and Brock asked to join. Renne came to Touya and whispered to him. Touya nodded before she came to Delia.

"What is it, Renne?" she asked.

"I wanted to come and help you for a while," she requested. Delia smiled and held Renne's hand.

"Of course," she accepted. Duster and Tempest joined those heading to Pallet Town while Delia allowed Oak to go ahead.

"You're staying?" asked Ash.

"Well, I figured that with Brock and Micah back in Brunhild," she started. "I thought I'd cook for you." Ash and Pikachu smiled. Misty was defeated, but Sue, Ash and Pikachu allowed her to stay and learn about their world. Even though she lost to Ash, he was still there to help out. Just imagine going home.

TO BE CONCLUDED...