Hey all! I'm brand new to all of this fan-fiction stuff, so please bear with me. I wrote this story as soon as the Sinnoh League battles really began. (So, about a week ago.) I've always been an Ash and Misty fan, and I just thought this story might be a nice way to remember Misty, especially since I made it take place in the episodes that are just airing in Japan.
I don't own Pokemon, and this is purely made for fun. If you like it, please leave a comment! Thank you!
EDIT : I got a very nice comment from oombala that said I should give a little backstory to make this more understandable, and I agree! So for those who are reading this, this fic is taking place in the most recent Japanese episodes of Pokemon, (DP 182 and on) where Ash is competing in the Suzuran Conference, or the Sinnoh League Championships. Ash and Misty haven't seen each other since that small time she traveled with him in the Advanced Generation episodes (AG 132) so it's been about 2 years, give or take a couple months, since they've had REAL contact. They are about 14-15 in this fic, so a BIT older than when the anime started :) Hope this clears things up a bit.
Misty's stomach flipped-flopped as she pushed her bike forward. Before, she'd been able to temporarily distract herself. Memories of her amazing journey had flooded her head, making her forget the newfound sadness that panged in her gut. But she couldn't distract herself now.
She'd been promising herself for years she would tell him. YEARS. And even though it killed her, she still couldn't do it. Knowing that she was closer to Cerulean City with each step didn't help.
Misty bit her lip until she was afraid it would bleed. It would be so EASY to yell at him now. So EFFORTLESS. She wanted to scream and cry in his face until he finally understood how badly it hurt to love someone... who didn't love you back. Misty looked over at Brock, the image of calmness, and reminded herself that fighting wouldn't solve anything.
She felt weak thinking about what WOULD solve her problems. Misty knew that if by some crazy one in a million chance he felt the same way about her that she felt about him, she would be complete.
Misty stared at the young boy, and wondered if one day, not today, but one day, he would see her as she saw him. Strong, brave, talented, ... beautiful. She blushed to herself.
That settled it. No matter what happened today, Misty knew that she always wanted the boy to be a part of her life. And as the trio neared the spot where she would say goodbye, she only wanted one thing from him.
A promise - a promise that they would meet again. If he said yes, Misty would wait for him no matter how long he took. If he said no... she blinked her eyes rapidly to stop tears she hadn't noticed building up.
If he said no… she'd slap him. Hard. And say GOOD RIDDANCE.
Togepi chirped happily from the basket on Misty's new bike, and she wondered if the baby pokemon could understand her thoughts. She hoped not.
Brock stopped walking; they were here. Misty followed suit and took a deep breath. This was really it.
Her eyes were even brighter than usual as the sun glimmered off of the tears she refused to shed.
"Take care Ash."
"You too, Misty."
A lump rose in her throat and she swallowed hard to keep it down. She really didn't want to leave him. Not her best friend, not ASH...
Her emotions were so powerful she almost shook from their blow. But she held it together. She had to know if he'd still want to see her again. And she had to know NOW.
"Will I - see you again?"
No turning back now. Ash paused.
"You will. I swear!"
"Like, MISTY! Get your lazy butt out of bed! NOW!"
"WAH! I'm up, I'm up!" Misty stumbled out of her bed and glanced at her watch.
The glowing numerals read 12:30.
12:30? How could I have possibly slept in so late?
"Azurill – we have to get up." She picked up the small blue pokemon and held it close.
"Zu-zu…" the normal type responded tiredly, snuggling into Misty's hair. Misty understood. She hadn't wanted to wake up either.
"MISTY!" Misty looked up to see Daisy saunter into her room, and sigh.
"Look, I'm sorry I forgot to wake you." Ah, so she DID notice I was pissed, Misty thought. She better have a really good excuse…
"It's just that Tracey came over this morning and we went out for pancakes! Oh, Misty he was such a gentl-!" Misty cringed. She didn't want to know.
"All right! It doesn't matter what you were doing. Just, PLEASE, buy me an alarm clock today okay?" Daisy nodded.
"No prob little sis. Now, like, get downstairs!" Daisy winked and began to head for the door. Then she stopped in her tracks, smirking and turning back to look at Misty.
"Oh, and Misty?" Misty raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah?"
"You really should've gotten over that Ash kid YEARS ago in my opinion; and your sleep talking habit. It's just strange. Well- see ya!" Daisy laughed and shut the door behind her.
Misty's cheeks burned in shame, and she groaned. It was weird and embarrassing enough to be having so many dreams about Ash in the first place. Now she was telling people about them! That was even BETTER!
"I don't know what to do Azurill…" Misty released her tight hold on the pokemon and watched it bounce towards her bed.
"Ash used to mean… so…. much to me." She started picking through her drawers, putting on her clothes in silence. But her mind wouldn't stop buzzing.
"It's been a really long time since I saw him. Things have changed. I've changed." Misty tightened her hair in a ponytail.
"I may have felt that way about him before, but I don't anymore! And I hate how these dreams keep making me feel… guilty." Her eyes slid toward the mirror, and she looked at her reflection. The strong trainer hidden beneath her issues was hard to miss. She smiled.
She couldn't let the dreams get to her. She refused. She'd lived without Ash Ketchum for a long, long time now, and it was better this way. Misty Waterflower's unrequited love issues were way in the past, the way they should be.
Her smile faltered.
If ANY of that was true, then why, why, WHY had she woken up that morning, wishing she'd kissed him… instead of saying goodbye?