Epilogue

Seven Years Later

The office's huge windows are open. The ocean breeze softly entering the work office area. A man sits a few feet away from the open windows and is on his long wooden desk stacked with papers.

Master Ash had been busy filling out paperwork in his office for the past five hours. Being Pokemon Master required a great deal of battling and a great deal of paperwork. His hands were in pain from all the writing and signing.

He then sighed before turning his chair around and turning at the glass window behind him. His eyes drifted to his window. More specifically the view out of his window. The blue ocean. Ironic, no matter how far away he moved, the ocean would always follow him.

Taking time to reflect watching the ocean reminded him of bittersweet memories. Ash's melancholy flashbacks were interrupted when his office phone began to ring. Ash turned around panicked and tried getting the phone from his desk. He knocked a few papers down to the floor in the process.

Ash sighed tiredly at himself before saying to the phone, "Ash here."

"Master Ash. They are here."

Ash gave a small smile as he reached for a photo frame on his desk, "Bring them in please."

"As you wish."

Ash placed the photo framed back to its place before standing up from his desk and watching how two twins pushed both his office doors wide open.

"Ash! Ash!!"

"Hey, kiddos!" Ash said joyfully as he scooped each twin in his arms.

Brock and Suzie entered soon after them.

"Damn Suzie, they love their Godfather more than their Dad," Brock whined as Suzie just laughed at her husband's remark.

"Hey, you guys," Ash said to his friends.

"Hey, Ash! Thanks for the invite. I barely have time to rest." Brock said tiredly as he laid down in one of the sofas Ash had in his giant office.

"Don't mention it. How's work for you guys?" Ash asked, placing his godchildren down so they could cause a mess in his office.

"Oh I am so busy in my company and poor Brock can never seem to have a rest from the hospital," Suzie answered, pouting a bit at the last part.

"Oh, poor Brock. I- kids what are you doing?"

The twins both turned their heads towards Ash with a guilty face as they said, "Sorry Ash, but a Ms. Secrea- the desk lady called and we picked up."

Suzie gave both her children a scowling face, "Hannah and Jason, come over here."

Ash gave both of them a sad smile as he knew they were in trouble with Suzie. The twins handed the phone to Ash before making their way to their Mom.

"Hello?"

"Master Ash, sorry to bother you again but the challenger is here."

"Challenger? What challenger?"

"Well, they requested a challenge from you months ago and reserved a private match today. You were informed, sir.  Apart from that, you have a small meeting with the new intern after the match."

Ash groaned that's right he did know. How did he forget?

"I'll be down there. Don't worry."

Ash then hung up before turning around and started apologizing to Suzie and Brock. "Hey, guys, so sorry but I'm needed down there an-"

Suzie smiled, "Go, Ash. I'm taking the twins to the League playground outside. Brock..."

They both turned to a sleeping Brock on the sofa, "Brock will stay in here."

"Great. I will meet you all for dinner and then we'll have the rest of the evening together. I promise."

Suzie nodded before taking each twin by the hand and walking out.

Ash sighed before he left after them and shut the door.

________________________________________________________________

The challenger sighed dejectedly as he retrieved his Pokeball. Ash gave him a small smile, "Hey don't be so down. You did well. Just need to work on your quick moves."

"Thanks anyway." the challenger said before giving Ash a well firm handshake and a smile.

"Anytime, champ" Ash replied.

As Ash walked the challenger out to the main lobby his eyes fell on a redhead woman.Her back was turned in his direction but he could still tell she was talking to one of the office clerks. She was dressed too casually for a battle however she had a nice figure.

For a second Ash was flooded with a train of thoughts and questions.

Could it be her?

It had to be.

No.

They hadn't seen in each other in years and-

Ash shook his head from his running thoughts.

It couldn't be her. It had been too many years.

His eye on her was lost within the crowd of people in the lobby and she was gone. After Ash walked the challenger out of the building he returned to the main lobby clerk.

"Hey, Jessie." Ash greeted her happily. Jessie had just ended a call on the phone and smiled at Ash, "Hey Ash. I just got off the call informing me that the intern is ready for the meeting."

Ash nodded, "Thank you. In the room out by the patio right?"

Jessie nodded.

"Great, thank you."

Ash began walking before he stopped and returned to Jessie.

"Hey um quick question but who was that redhead earlier here?"

Jessie raised an eyebrow at him.

"Redhead?"

"Yeah."

Jessie gave him a weird look before shooing him away, "Boy, you must have seen a ghost or something. No redhead has stopped in here. Now go! Shoo! The intern is waiting for you."

Ash laughed at Jessie's behavior before walking towards the room down the long halls of the building.

Before he knew it one of his office clerks, James, was dragging him by his arm.

"Oh, sir! You just got to meet her! She's the newest intern for the League and a few months is going to battle you so she can earn the Water Pokemon Master title!"

"What?" Ash let out.

As James opened the door Ash's eyes widened before he felt his blood drain when the woman became closer.

"She's just fascinating. Her resume was so-" the clerk's words seem to fade from Ash's surroundings. Everything seemed to fade away and the only thing he could focus on was the back of the redhead.

She was facing the huge tall and wide windows of the room. Admiring the huge garden outside and faintly the ocean view. Her red hair, glowing under the sunlight from the window. Before he knew it she was turning around and there she was...

The first thing that came in Ash's mind was that she was even more beautiful than he remembered. Then any of his sweetest dreams of her.

Her eyes, however, stayed the same, the same alluring and mysterious eyes that he fell for. That he so deeply drowned in every time he looked at them.

Her hair had grown out more but overall she still looked the same.Oh, and she did seem just a bit older but who was he to judge for, he looked older too.

"Hi Misty," Ash said, giving Misty a small smile while offering her a handshake.

Misty returned the small smile as she accepted his handshake, "Hi Ash."

James gawked at both of them, shocked that they both knew each other before taking his cue to leave them alone in the huge room.

Upon closing the door, Ash noticed how he had gotten just a bit taller than Misty. Before he said anything she said, standing in front of him, "Thank you for having me here in the League. I swear I will work hard."

Ash nodded, before shaking her hand, "I look forward to working with you Misty."

Misty's smile became a bit bigger, "Likewise. I hope we can become good friends."

Ash couldn't help but see a flash of pain appear in Misty's eyes before it vanished. Ash's hand gave her a gentle squeeze as he replied, "I hope so too."

"Tell me what did you do after all these years Mist? What did you do after that night?" Ash suddenly found himself asking before cursing at himself.

Misty smiled at him, sadly before replying, "Well what can I say, Ash. I went to your house that night to stop you from leaving but ended up realizing I couldn't keep you."

"Why?" Ash asked, wanting to hear Misty's explanation.

"I was broken, Ash. I did realize I love you but along the way, I also realized that I didn't love myself. I needed to depend on someone's love to be comfortable with myself. I needed to learn to love myself before I loved someone else."

Ash stayed quiet before Misty continued, "I wasn't really happy per se Cerulean City. I was just a mere gym leader. I realized how I never went after my dream of becoming a Water Pokemon Master. Taking a journey around the world sounded like the ideal remedy to help me develop my skills, heal, and just think about everything that occurred."

Misty met Ash's eyes, her hand gripping on his a bit tighter, "And here I am after all these years."

"You're here now," Ash repeated, still amazed at Misty standing before him.

Both looked into each other's eyes and gave one another a small nod. After all these years they not only found themselves but one another. No matter how far or how long they were apart they were bound to each other. One way or another.

As Ash proceeded to give Misty a tour around the League he couldn't help but feel a nostalgic feeling. It felt so natural being beside her.

"It's nice seeing you again Ash," Misty said as they walked down the long hallway together.

Ash looked at Misty with a sad smile, "It's nice seeing you too Mist."

"I am having dinner with Brock, Suzie, and the twins later. Would you like to join?" Ash asked after a while.

"Twins?" Misty asked, smiling at Ash.

"No, no. Not my twins. Brock and Suzie's."

"Oh, you aren't married?" Misty asked in shock.

"What? Heavens no. I have no idea where you got that idea from."

Misty blushed a bit before saying, "It's just... it's been years Ash. Years! We're way older now and I thought you finally settled down. All of our friends have started their families already."

"Nah. I'm not ready for the adventure in my life to begin just yet." Ash answered before asking Misty, "How about you?"

Misty just smiled, "Nah, me neither. I am up for a few more battles."

"Me too." Ash agreed.

They continued walking before Misty replied, "I would be honored to join you guys for dinner. Acuerus knows I need to see Brock and his family after years of not talking to them."

"I wasn't going to take no for an answer," Ash said which earned him a light smack and giggle from Misty. 

_________________________________________________

After Misty reunited and hugged both Brock and Suzie she took a seat on the empty chair beside Ash. The twins were across from them and they had narrowed their eyes at the redhead.

Misty smiled nervously at them before whispering to Ash, "What's up with them?"

Ash chuckled before replying, "They're trying to scare you. Don't worry. Act tough and don't let them know they frighten you. They smell fear."

Misty glared at Ash's last remark.

"Kids I'd like you to meet Misty Waterflower. One of my best friends in my life." Brock said from across the table before going back to checking out his menu. 

Misty waved at the twins.

"Ash is she your best friend too?" Hannah asked, pointing her fork at Misty in an accusing way.

"Or is she your girlfriend?" Jason teased wiggling his eyebrows.

"I guess," Ash replied to Jason, casually, before sipping his glass water.

Misty and the twins stared at him, unbelievable.

"Ash," she hissed, "What are you saying. You can't lie to these kids."

"Hey if I remembered correctly I played your little game a few years ago. The least you can do is be a player in my game." Ash whispered, with a huge smirk on his face.

"Why you little-" Misty hissed.

"Hey, karma Mist. Karma."

"Just letting you know May isn't up no more to cover us from our stupid games. What are you going to do when this game or act of yours has to an end?" Misty challenged him with a smirk.

"I hope it doesn't come to an end," Ash only said before resuming to drink his water calmly.

Misty's smirk had vanished from her face. 

Who knew destiny had funny ways in life. 

A/N 

My bad you guys. I accidentally published the wrong draft. XD