" Go Misty!" Ash yelled as he gave a thumbs up to his girlfriend, and she smiled and waved back nervously.

" Don't worry, it's okay Ash.... Ash who I haven't seen in, like forever... With another girl.... Seeing my underwater performance...." Misty muttered.

But suddenly she slipped her mermaid tail making everything slippery. With a thunk, she hit the diving board and blacked out

Everyone gasped, and Ash grabbed the railing. " Misty!"

He turned to Serena and shoved Pikachu into her arms. " Hold Pikachu."

" Huh?" Serena asked, confused. " Where are you-"

But Ash was already too far to notice.

A security guy, who was ordering people around, saw Ash running their way and held a hand up. " I'm sorry, but this is ristric-"

Ash shoved the guy out of his way. " Excuse me!"

" ... Ted area."

Ash turned his cap backwards. " Hold on, Misty!"

Then he dove in.

Meanwhile, Misty was sinking, not even knowing she was sinking. She was in the verge of losing air when someone grabbed her hand.

Ash.

He pulled her hand towards his body and grabbed her waist, pulling her to his body and swimming back up.

There, a medic helped Ash get Misty out of the pool. He coughed and gasped for air, looking at Misty as the medic felt her pulse.

Nothing.

Ash pulled his body onto land. " Misty?!"

The medic looked at him. " Go on that side." He ordered

Ash obeyed.

" Okay,. let's walk you through this. Tilt her head back. Immediately after I stop pumping, you breathe!"

Ash blinked as the medic did CPR on her chest.

Everyone watched.

" BREATHE!" the medic yelled

Ash took a deep breath and put his lips over hers, just like he had done so many more times before.

Serena watched. " Eh....?"

Then she fainted.

Meanwhile, the medic held a hand up. " Okay, let's try that again."

" A.. again.... In front of all these people....?"

Then he looked at hks girlfriend and nodded. " Okay."

They did it again.

Nothing.

Ash looked at Misty with tears in his eyes, hands clenched on knees. " Misty...."

Then Misty shot up, coughing the water out.

" Misty!!"

Misty didn't even have time to react before Ash grabbed her body and pulled her in tightly. Misty blinked and side hugged back, smiling at the concerned medic

" You should know he touched your lips." The medic whispered.

Misty didn't even flinch. " Oh, that's fine."

Ash blinked tears and turned Misty's face so she could face him. " Don't you dare do that again!"

Misty gave Ash a weak smile. " Oh, Ash. I'm fine."

Ash shook his head. " No, you're not. As soon as all these people are gone I'm taking you to the clinic."

" Bu-"

Ash put a finger on his lips. " Shush. You're not going to argue."

Misty blinked sheepishly. _ what about that girl?"

" Oh, you mean Serena?"

" Yeah. Don't you like her now?"

Ash grabbed Misty's hands. " Misty, I always loved you. Always have, always will. Isn't that what I told you before I left for Kalos?"

Misty smiled. " Yes, I suppose it is."

She turned to the audience and waved a hand. " Everyone, I have an announcement!"

Everyone turned silent.

" See this amazing boy next to me? The one who saved my life?"

Misty smiled, her cheeks still pale from the ordeal but brightened by her warmth and confidence. She looked at Ash, who was still clutching her hands tightly, his eyes wide with confusion.

"This boy right here," she began, her voice echoing across the pool area. "This is the boy I've loved since the first time he walked into my life. And today, he proved again why he's the most amazing person I know."

The crowd erupted into murmurs, a mix of surprise, adoration, and curiosity. Ash's face turned as red as a Poké Ball. "M-Misty!" he stammered, tugging her hand gently. "What are you—"

Misty ignored his protest, her gaze focused entirely on him. "Ash Ketchum," she said, her voice steady despite the blush creeping across her face. "You’ve always been my hero. You never give up on me, no matter what. And honestly?" She paused and smiled. "You’re my partner, in every way."

The audience clapped, a few cheers rising from the crowd. Pikachu, still in Serena's arms, let out a cheerful, "Pikapi!"

Ash blinked, looking at Misty as if seeing her for the first time. His lips parted, but no words came out.

Misty raised an eyebrow. "Well? Aren't you going to say something?"

Ash swallowed hard, then grinned sheepishly. "Uh... You're welcome?"

The crowd burst into laughter, and Misty sighed, rolling her eyes with a smile. "Typical Ash."

Then, to everyone's surprise—including Ash's—she leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

The crowd went wild.

Ash froze, his face heating up again as Misty pulled back, a playful smirk on her lips. "That's for saving me. But next time, try not to embarrass me so much in front of an audience, okay?"

Ash chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "Uh, I'll... try?"

Serena, who had regained consciousness just in time to witness the scene, sighed and handed Pikachu back to Ash. "Well, I guess that's that," she muttered to herself, a bittersweet smile on her face.

The crowd began to disperse, leaving Ash and Misty standing by the poolside. The medic gave them a knowing smile. "She's fine, but keep an eye on her for the next 24 hours."

Ash nodded, his grip on Misty's hand tightening. "Don't worry. I'm not letting her out of my sight."

Misty squeezed his hand back and leaned against him. "Good," she said softly. "Because I don’t plan on going anywhere without you, either."

" Here's the milk you asked for, Ash. Misty, make sure to swallow."

Misty, who was now sitting in her fuzzy Starmie nightsuit in Ash's house on his couch wrapped in a blanket and hugging a plush Goldeen, nodded. " Yes, Mrs. Ketchum."

Ash took the bottle gratefully. " Thanks mom."

Then he turned the bottle over and let a drop fall into his arm.

" Okay, Misty, open."

Misty looked at the bottle. " But Ash...."

" Misty. Open up. Now."

B.... But it's in a baby bottle."

Ash looked indiffered. " And I don't care. Open up."

Ash held the baby bottle up to Misty's lips, his expression serious but with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Misty stared at the bottle, uncertain.

"Come on, Misty," Ash urged, "you’re not going to get away from this."

Misty hesitated, clutching her plush Goldeen tighter. "This is embarrassing, Ash," she muttered. "I’m not a baby."

Ash shrugged, still holding the bottle. "Doesn’t matter. Doctor’s orders."

Misty sighed, sitting up a little more in her blanket cocoon. "Fine. But don’t tell anyone about this."

"I’ll take it to the grave." Ash gave her a grin.

Reluctantly, Misty opened her mouth, allowing Ash to carefully feed her the milk. She tried to look anywhere but at Ash, who was completely focused on making sure she drank every last drop.

When she was done, Ash pulled the bottle away. He placed it on the nearby table before reaching for the stethoscope that the medic had left for him.

Misty raised an eyebrow. "What now?"

"Now, I make sure you're good to go," Ash said seriously, putting the stethoscope in his ears. He gently lifted Misty's blanket from her shoulders and pressed the cold metal against her chest.

Misty tensed slightly, her cheeks flushing. "Ash, what are you doing?"

"Just checking your heartbeat," he replied, concentrating on the sound. "You’ve been through a lot today. I need to make sure you’re okay."

Misty couldn't help but smile at how caring he was. She’d never seen this side of Ash before, and it made her feel strangely comforted. "Okay, fine. But you better not be getting any weird ideas."

Ash didn’t respond right away, focusing instead on the rhythmic sound of her heartbeat. Misty’s heart was steady, reassuringly strong. After a moment, he pulled the stethoscope away and grinned.

"You’re all good." He winked at her. "But I’m keeping an eye on you. No more stunts like today, okay?"

Misty groaned, sinking further into the couch, her face still pink. "I wasn’t trying to do a stunt, Ash. It just... happened."

Ash chuckled, setting the stethoscope aside. "I know. But still, you scared me. I’m just glad you’re okay."

Misty smiled softly. "I’m fine, Ash. Really. Thanks for... well, everything."

Ash looked at her, his expression softening. "I’d do it a thousand times over."

Misty, still holding her Goldeen plush, leaned against Ash, feeling the warmth of the room and the safety of his presence. "I guess you’re not so bad, Ketchum."

"Hey!" Ash protested, but his face lit up with a smile.

The two sat together on the couch in the quiet of Ash's house, the evening stretching on peacefully. Despite the odd situation, they both felt closer than ever.