Misty

I didn't even care about what happened on the blimp. For once, I wasn't scared. I was too upset over Ash to care. Too upset with myself for thinking this trip would turn out the way I wanted. Like life was some sort of fairytale.

Life didn't work out like that. I couldn't rely on anyone but myself.

The blimp landed in Saffron. I used my bike to get to Cerulean. It only took a day of pedaling, my thighs burning as my feet moved up and down, my tennis shoes sturdily gripping the pedals, fingers red from squeezing the handles too tightly as I careened up and down hills, twisting and turning through forests and plains, my breathing erratic as I kept going, refusing to stop and get even farther away from the idiotic, dimwitted, raven haired boy who had eaten up so much of my life.

The wheels spun and my feet kept pumping.

It felt like eternity.

I was alone. To stop from thinking of him I thought about my bike. The perfect red color, how I was as fast as a Ponyta bounding across an open meadow, or at least that's what I was until Ash burnt it to a crisp. And then my bike had become an excuse for years to stay with him. Because he owed me, I'd told myself. I'd told him so many times that's the only reason I was traveling with him-because I needed the bike back.

He had been so happy when it had been fixed. So wretchedly, stupidly, wickedly happy.

I took my frustration out on the pedals. My feet pushed so hard that my feet slipped, causing me to stumble off, my body unceremoniously hitting the dirt path. A huge scratch ran along my calf all the way up half my thigh. I was bleeding. If I wanted to walk, I'd have to limp. Not to mention my bruised and scraped elbow.

I didn't care.

But I also didn't get back up. I laid, sprawled on the road, and let tears fall silently as I tried to cry away the pain. The pain of my own stupidity for letting my heart get so wrapped around a guy.

The pain of loneliness.

When I had finished, I got back on my bike and kept going. I wasn't mad at my bike anymore. I didn't really feel mad at myself either, but it was because I was too numb to feel anymore.

I woke up the next morning sore. I'd ended up sleeping on the island at the top of the pool in the Cerulean gym. The pool was raised above ground for the water shows. It was a secret haven, to come up here and think. To be alone.

I hadn't meant to fall asleep up here.

I stretched, remembering why I was in so much pain as I gingerly ran my hand across the bandages on my leg and arm.

They would heal. It'd be alright. I wasn't worried about them.

Though it'd hurt for the meantime.

I descended the ladder to try to find breakfast. I was sure there would be something in the kitchen.

I looked at the clock by the fridge. Four in the afternoon? I blinked in surprise. I must have been really out of it. I opened the door, pulling out a jug of juice and pouring myself a glass. I'd have to go to the store later. Tomorrow the gym challengers would be coming. And I had to be ready to get back to who I really was- Misty, the Cerulean Gym Leader. That's who I was meant to be.

"Um, Misty?" One of the volunteers, Sarah, poked her head into the kitchen.

"Hey. Everything alright?"

"You're back," she said in surprise. "I thought-"

I held up a hand. "I decided to come back a bit early."

"Oh. Ok," she said uncomfortably. "Well, the thing is, there's this Trainer at the door and he won't leave. He keeps yelling for us to open up."

"I don't accept challenges until tomorrow," I said firmly.

"Well, I know, but he's been out there for an hour despite the sign."

"So?" I asked, annoyed as I took a granola bar from the pantry. I was feeling too selfish today. Couldn't I have one day to myself, where no one wanted anything from me? Or took anything from me?

"Fine. I'll tell him to go away for you," Sarah said.

"Thanks." I leaned back against the counter when she left, eyeing the granola bar. My stomach was empty, but I didn't feel hungry. I threw it against the counter and walked out.

The aquariums inlaid in the wall usually calmed me, but today was a different case. The light from the water played and mingled on the ground, so lighthearted when I felt so down. I passed by the main hall when skidding footsteps forced me to stop. My eyes, full of confusion, were met with the problem that I'd been trying to avoid. A problem that couldn't be standing in Cerulean when it had been my goal to leave him behind. A problem that shouldn't have such pained, dark brown eyes and should instead get punched in the face.

"Misty," he breathed.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, instantly turning to walk away.

"I took the earliest blimp. Flying type Pokemon. Almost died. Pikachu is out there. I snuck in the back-"

"You're not wanted here!" I yelled. "Why would you think I would want to talk to you if I left you back in precious Hoenn, where you're perfectly fine being away from me?"

Ash looked down in shame before his eyes widened. "Hey, what happened to your leg?"

"Pay attention!" I snapped.

He warily looked at my face instead. "You didn't give me a chance to explain."

"Fine. Explain away." I crossed my arms.

"Misty!" Sarah was running down the hallway. "I tried to stop him, but-"

"Don't worry about him Sarah. I just need to talk to him. Alone," I emphasized.

Sarah shrunk back. "Alright."

"Seriously, thanks Sarah," I said kindly. I'd been taking it out on her and it wasn't her fault. I'd have to make it up to her later.

I stared at Ash. Sarah rounded the corner. The only sound was the aquarium filtering water. "Well?"

Ash jumped. "Oh, right."

For the hundredth time in the past few days, he looked bashful. "Misty, I thought you being a Gym Leader was all you ever wanted. That's why I let you stay here. I thought it would be good for you and a chance for you to actually live out your dreams for once."

I crossed my arms.

"I didn't want you to stay here. Seriously. I wanted you to come with me. But that was selfish..." His jaw locked. "So instead I let you stay. And I told myself that it was for the best. I knew you'd be an awesome Gym Leader. But I still hated being away from you. Still, Misty. I had to let you do this. And I think part of you wanted to take the challenge too, even if being apart hurt."

I couldn't help but admit that was true.

"So I didn't convince you to travel with me. It would have been easy. You know that. And what good would that have been? You wouldn't have gotten to grow at all. And neither of us would have had time apart to figure out if it could even be done."

"Of course it can be done." I snorted. "I don't need you."

He winced, but tried to hide it.

"You still didn't ask me to travel with you in Hoenn, Ash. You could have asked, but you didn't."

He shook his head. "Because that wouldn't be fair to you."

Ash stepped closer. I wanted to take a step back, but all that happened is my arms fell to my side. He let his fingers brush against my hand.

"The thing is Misty... I'm not letting you give up your dream. I don't want anyone giving up what they want most."

"So what are you doing then?" I asked suspiciously, but my defensiveness was gone. He was too close for me to be mean.

"I'm going to be visiting you for a while," He murmured. "Because two days wasn't enough."

"How long?"

"Till I want to leave."

My frown deepened. "Ash, you can't just leave the Hoenn League."

"I'm not. I'm just on vacation." He promised.

"That's your dream though," I retorted. "Why should you give up your dream if I can't give up mine?"

"Misty," Ash said softly, stepping closer again. His eyes were so close to mine. His distance, still too far for me even if it wasn't regions away, made my broken heart ache. "I said that I would always choose you."

Before I could retort, before I could cry, even before I could get my mallet, he closed the distance that I had been wanted closed for years. For the first time since he left, I could breathe. For the first time since I met him, things felt wholly right between us. For the first time since these feelings began, all the pain and heartache became worth it.

His kiss was more than worth it.

I knew it was his first one, which made it even more special. It was a bit awkward and messy, but full of so much love that I wanted to cry. It was almost a relief to know that I didn't know Ash as well as I thought. That I had made the wrong assumptions. That kissing him wasn't perfect like battling was, where I knew his every move. We had a lot to learn about each other, a lot of new experiences to share.

And even without knowing everything about him, I knew that he loved me.

We pulled away, both of us a little embarrassed. He held my hands between his own. I didn't mind the warmth.

"Ash Ketchum, I choose you too." I whispered, standing on tip toe to kiss him again.

THE END

Ok DONE! DONE! So no one can ask me to keep continuing now! MUAHAHAHA.

Alright, so for those of you who want to know what happens after this, I'm changing the show up: Ash does end up going back to the Hoenn League, but not for over a month. They end up setting up a special deal with Misty's sisters so that she can visit Ash every other month to travel with him, but she also still gets to be the Gym Leader when she's there. Best of both worlds. They date (I imagine they're 18ish in this just to make sense dating wise. I think it's silly to date much younger truthfully. Not judging though! If you make it work, that's cool), but I think they eventually do go longer than that without each other, but their relationship is more stable and they can handle it. And they eventually get married and have a daughter (see Next Generation) and live happily ever after, the end.

But yes, now these love letters are done. You're welcome, Pokeshippers. Hope you enjoyed them. I do love Ash and Misty. I really do. My first ever ship.

Also, for those of you who enjoy Pokeshipping probably far more than we should, I'm going to start posting my new Pokeshipping story soon. It's comedic, is better written, and obviously has Pokeshipping. Check it out once I post it!

Love you all!

-Flips