Chapter 19

Ash considered the situation very carefully. Finally he was seeing Georgio. This guy coming towards Misty arms out stretched was Georgio. Pikachu jumped from his shoulder to Misty’s lap but Ash did not care.

Finally, he was going to get some answers. Pikachu could stay with Misty; it would make what needed to happen a whole lot easier for them all.

“I ran into Brendan and he told me he had seen you and where you were going. It has been such a long time Misty. You took off the moment you heard of this place.” Georgio said as he came closer and closer.

Ash rose from where he was and deliberately stepped in front of Misty halting Georgio’s progress.

“Hey, its okay I know her! It is me Misty! Tell this guy to shove off!” Georgio said reaching up to push Ash out the way. Before the guy could even touch him Ash had his arm gripped tightly.

“Wait! Ash, Don’t hurt him!” Misty said her face pale as she started to stand. “Look Georgio, why did you come here? You have no real interest in battling. You told me so yourself remember?”

Ash tensed even more at the soft tone Misty was using. His grip tightened even more causing the boy to wince.

“I do have an interest in battling Misty. I wanted to battle you again. I know our last date didn’t go so perfect, but was because I was trying too hard. This time it will be normal, natural just you wait and see.”

Paul and Cilan looked to Ash upon hearing Georgio. Ash had his head lowered as he gripped the Georgio’s hand. They were unable to see his face only the rigidness his body was showing.

“You can’t keep doing this.” Misty whispered clenching her fists. “I told you before, I have no choice to accept your challenges but it is not fair to me. You have no idea what you are doing when you keep up with this Georgio. I don’t want to date.”

“You said you were lonely!” Georgio cried out, having forgotten Ash and the tight grip he had on his arm. “You said it yourself! The gym was hard to manage on your own, you missed having someone near to you and you missed travelling! Misty. I told you already I could give you all those things. My Pokémon I raised in care for your needs, please.” Georgio begged. “Another chance.”

“Enough.” Ash rasped bringing all attention to him. “You. Georgio. I heard enough from you.”

“Look, Ash don’t be rash.” Misty began to only recoil when Ash threw a venomous glance at her.

“Stay out of this Misty. You had your chance to explain everything. I knew you didn’t want me to run into him. Now I know why. He is nothing better than a stalker!” Ash roared releasing Georgio shoving the smaller boy back.

“How dare you!” Georgio began only to draw back when seeing the look on Ash’s face.

“I knew there was a possibility I would get mad. But this.” Ash snarled beginning to tremble. “This is beyond mad, I am so pissed right now. Especially after hearing him speak. The way he talks to you Misty! And you allow this! When you should go to Officer Jenny to have it locked in a prison you go and indulge it in battles!”

“It is just a crush Ash Ketchum!” Misty said flaring up. “I don’t want to hurt his feelings!”

“So you encourage this? It is one thing if you are only involved, but how dare he!” Ash snarled focusing his attention on Georgio who had managed to find his way to his feet.

“I don’t know who you are, but you will not interfere with my battle with Misty!” Georgio said shaking in nervousness. “We are meant to be together and I admire Misty a lot.”

“Listen up here!” Ash said narrowing his gaze. “The only person you will be battling today or challenging when it comes to Misty is ME.”

“You?” Georgio asked in shock. He was not the only one. Misty gasped before dropping back into her chair, the other girls just gasped before staring at Misty. Drew slyly snuck money towards Cilan while Paul did the same.

“Yes me. It is wrong to use your Pokémon to force Misty to do something she doesn’t want to do. Can’t you see how wrong it is? Misty is a gym leader with lots of responsibilities. To use the outcome of a battle to force her to do your will over and over is wrong. The first time.” Ash paused.

“The first time could be acceptable.” But to go back after you lose and torment her like this is wrong. Misty belongs to herself and she has the right to decide who she wants to be with!”

Sighing Cilan passed some of the money back to Drew and Paul while they grinned. Frowning at the display Iris shook her head at them.

“You don’t know what you are talking about. You are nothing to her anyway!” Georgio said gathering courage. “You don’t know how I feel about her!”

“You don’t know how she feels about me!” Was Ash’s reply. Paul groaned before handing Drew his share he had just received. Ash ran his hand to his hat before removing it with a flourish.

“Misty and I go way back. Before she was a gym leader, she was with me. Getting stronger, learning herself and enjoying her freedom. Only reason why you were able to go along with this for so long was because I was still travelling. But even then Misty came to join me sometimes.” Ash paused to lower his tone.

“Misty is my best friend. No one will ever force her into a battle to force her into something once I am around so I say let’s go outside and settle this with a battle.”

“Winner takes Misty then?” Georgio snapped glaring at Ash. “You talk a lot but you are no different from me.”

“Wrong. I’m not doing this to take Misty.” Ash said glaring Georgio down. “I’m doing this so that no matter what she has the choice. No more of this forcing her to date you. I can’t force you to leave her alone. Some stalkers are persistent like that I guess. But I can set the limits. Do it the normal way if you like her so bad.”

“What do I get if I win?” Georgio asked suspiciously.

“Well what would a stalker like you want from me?”

“I’m not a stalker! And when I win I’ll decide what I want from you.”

“No when about it.” Ash said replacing his hat. “I’ll be the one to win today.”

“Pika!” Pikachu cried out jumping on Ash’s shoulder.

Paul suspected that he was the only one that saw Ash’s contemplative look towards Pikachu. Maybe the little mouse was assuming a bit too much.

“This will be a one on one battle between the trainers Ash and Georgio.” Cilan declared looking between at the two trainers glaring at each other in the Pokémon Centre training field.

“Glameow!” was Georgio’s cry as he released the grey cat Pokémon.

“That certainly looks like it was raised well.” Dawn whispered to the others where they sat on the bench to watch.”

“He certainly seems to have a likening towards cat Pokémon.” Misty said causing the others to look at her curiously.

“Where is your Pokémon?” Georgio asked all signs of nervousness wiped away.

“Pika Chu!” came from the mouse as it leapt forward to slide into place in front of Ash. However Ash smiled before bending down and picking up Pikachu into his arms.

“Not this time buddy.” Ash said surprising them all. Except Paul, he nodded to himself now understanding. Ash travelled to Misty with Pikachu in his arms complaining all the way.

He gently placed Pikachu onto Misty’s lap before crouching down to look at the unhappy electric mouse. “Sorry buddy, but this time. I need your help in keeping watch on Misty for me. Presides this is the perfect opportunity for me to do some more training.”

“Ash.” Misty began her voice a warning in itself. Ash looked up at her before breaking into a smile.

“I won’t let anything happen Misty I promise you. Ash said as he stood up and walked back to his marker.

“Go Dratini!” Ash said releasing the Pokémon from the pokeball. Dratini looked a whole lot better. And was obviously ready for a battle ahead.

“Let the battle begin!” Cilan said waving his hands down to begin the match.

“Glameow, use Slash!”

“Dratini use Leer!”

Glameow set off at a pace for Dratini only to stop in its tracks when Dratini fixed a threatening glare upon it. Glameow shrank back before looking back at its trainer for assistance.

“That leer is super scary.” May whispered to Dawn who agreed.

“Hard to believe that it is just a baby. Look at that Leer!”

“Shake it off and you Fury Swipes!” Georgio said shaking out of his confusion. Looking at Ash it appeared the other trainer was smiling.

“What is Ash’s strategy this time?” Dawn asked leaning over May to look at Paul. Paul tilted his head in her direction and shrugged.

“You must have some idea Paul.” Dawn pressed only for Paul to narrow his gaze at her. “Okay okay. You are clueless like the rest of us. Misty any ideas?”

“No.” Misty said hesitantly. “I haven’t seen him battle for a while and even then, it would still be hard to figure out. I have my suspicions but I can’t be sure.” She finished as she lightly petted Pikachu on her lap.

“Keep Dratini from moving with your tail Glameow!” Georgio said looking uneasy. However the moment that Dratini was trapped in the cat Pokémon spring like tail Ash slowly swung his cap backward.

Misty gasped, that was it! Ash had deliberately let Georgio in. He was more mad than he let on. She tried to stand only to feel Drew’s hand bringing her back down to her seat.

“He needs to do this.” The green haired teen said without once looking away from the display. “You ending it now would upset him even more. He wont go beyond what is right. He just needs to do this, he is doing this for you. No matter what he says about Pokémon to that guy. He is doing this because he wants to protect you. So let him. please.”

Blinking quickly Misty regained her seat and worriedly stared at the Ash on the field. He looked determined and just a little arrogant. Like the Ash of old. Like her Ash.

“Dratini use Thunder Wave!” Ash said waving his arm towards the trapped Dratini.

“Wait what?” Georgio asked worriedly realizing that his action may not have been wise. He gasped at his Pokémon was rendered paralyzed.

“Now get out of there and use Dragon Rush!” Ash said coldly his eyes fixed on Georgio.

“But, that’s just a baby!”

“Some strong Pokémon moves can be bred into a baby. Dratini may be young but it already has a good grasp on tactics. I plan to give it my all, be the best it can be for itself. I won’t be raising my Pokémon to force a girl to be with me!” Ash finished off angrily.

Seeing that Dratini had slipped free and was preparing to use the move ordered. Ash made sure his voice was emotionless. “Dragon Rush Dratini, no mercy. Just like we practiced.”

Dratini's body became surrounded in a light blue orb with white little streaks. It’s head glowed  blue and suddenly released an energy that covered its body. Moving quickly it then slamed into it’s still paralyzed foe Glameow with full forced.

Glameow flew backwards sprawling at Georgio’s feet. A squeak of horror came from the boy who was shaken to see that Dratini was still fine even after delivering such a blow.

“Do you want to stop?” Ash asked shocking those gathered watching. “Have you understood yet? Do you get what I’m trying to tell you? Pokémon are your partners. Not your tools. You can’t just whip them out for a battle to get what you want. It makes you sound spoiled.”

Georgio cast a worried glance towards his fallen Pokémon. It looked unable to move. “Glameow.” He whispered worriedly.

“Yes, Glameow.” Ash said gesturing for Dratini to return to his side. “Yes, all of your Pokémon. I can say you take care of them. But are you meeting their needs? Their goals? Are you using them and catching them for something more than harassing Misty?”

Georgio paled before running over to the fallen Pokémon. “The match. End it please.”  Cilan hesitated before nodding.

“The match is now over. Ash is the winner.”

“You don’t battle like she does.” Georgio said as he stroked his fallen Pokémon. “You both go all out but it isn’t the same.”

“We are different people.” Ash said dryly as he attended to Dratini. “Different reasons for battling, different ways of seeing things. Of course we are going to battle different. But you.” Ash said to Dratini as he hugged it.

“You battled awesome! Your first battle and you were perfect! No hesitation at all you just went for it and beat them! I’m so proud Dratini.” Ash laughed.

“Pikapi!” Pikachu said jumping away from Misty to run to Ash. Ash quirked a smile before including his buddy in the hug.

“You did good too buddy! And this really does clear the air. And I feel a whole lot better now.”

Paul grunted before rising and dusting off his pants. Grabbing Dawn’s hand he stalked back to the Pokémon Centre to the amusement of Ash.

“Guess it wasn’t interesting enough for him.” Ash said looking a bit down for a moment. Drew on the other hand grinned before flicking his hair.

“Nice work Ash.” He said before heading off in the opposite direction.

“I guess we should go.” Iris said as she snagged both hands of May and Cilan hauling them away.

“Ash.” Misty said hesitating in her approach. There was no real doubt that Ash would win. As good as a trainer as Georgio was. He still had a lot to learn about thinking outside the box. Ash was never in the box to begin with. Even with such a young Pokémon Ash had held the advantage.

“Mist. You know what? I feel a whole lot better now.” Kneeling at his side she had to stifle his laughter. The scary Ash was gone and the happy battler was back.

“You did it Ash.” She laughed giving into herself and wrapping her amrs around him. “I wasn’t worried for a minute.”

“Liar. You know you were sitting there biting your nails. Admit it, I surprised you again.” Ash gloated.

In more ways than one. Misty thought closing her eyes. She was so wrapped up in her happiness that she did not notice Georgio approaching them until he stood above them. Releasing Ash, Misty started to draw back slowly.

She never did want to hurt Georgio but he had been so persistent. Determined that he could change her mind. She did not even know what he saw in her. He had just appeared chasing her. Maybe in the beginning her looks had drawn him in a bit and his pride did the rest.

Who knew? Looking up at him Misty registered the tiredness on his face. No matter what Ash said, this boy loved his Pokémon. He was like Ash in so many ways. Except where it counted.

“Misty, he’s right. I lost so I won’t force you to battle with me anymore to force you on a date. I should never have brought my Pokémon in it. Especially knowing how strong you are, I barely managed to beat you last time and that was because you were out of it.”

Georgio paused before lowering his head. “I’m really sorry. Especially since I didn’t look at all the signs.” Sadly Georgio glanced at Ash. “I’m not giving up though even though he was right.”

Misty looked at Georgio sadly. He never would give up. Not until he felt there was no way he could possibly win her heart. Just looking at him reminded her of the second time they had battled. The day coming up to the anniversary, she had lost Togepi.

“I don’t want to go on a date with you Georgio.” Misty said near to tears. All she wanted was this whole week over with. She did not even want to battle today of all days. Why had he kept pushing? Now she had failed her Pokémon.

Now she felt even worse for succumbing to her grief.

“Why not? Is there someone else Misty? Why won’t you give me the chance? Is it that you are waiting on someone else?”

Misty instantly though of Ash. In a way, she was waiting on him but that had nothing to do with this situation.

“This is not the time Georgio! I’m feeling really out of it why can’t you just leave me?”

“Because I care about you! I won fair and square so you have to go out with me. I’ll pick you up tomorrow okay? It will be perfect I promise.”

Misty shuddered in horror. Tomorrow? But that was the day...that was going to be the day. All she wanted to do tomorrow was curl up in her bed and pretend to be sick the whole evening. Before she could stop him, Georgio was running off leaving her alone in the gym.

Tomorrow would be a disaster, there is no way she would be able to enjoy any part of what he tried tomorrow. And it would not even be his fault.

“I should have pressed you for an answer.” Georgio said returning his Pokémon. “I didn’t know until you left that I had picked the worst day ever for you. I really wanted to second date so I could apologise to you. I know you have your own plan here. So do I.”

Georgio blushed before stepping away. “I want to become even closer with my Pokémon. I just hope, that I will see you often Misty.”

Silently Misty watched as the boy hurried away. He was not that bad, and it was not his fault about the situation. But even if Ash was out of the picture she would never love him.

“Come on back Dratini.” Ash said surprising her. She thought that he would have spoken up or said something so many times before. This was Ash. After how he had behaved in the beginning. She never thought he would have done that. Let her and Georgio have their say.

The air did need to be cleared up, and to tell the truth, Misty did not know what she had been so worried about. The Ash of old really did enjoy fighting, but did she really think Ash would attack Georgio like she had admitted to Pikachu?

Speaking of Pikachu. The poor thing was there sitting on the ground between them. One paw on Ash and the other on her. Misty knew she had somehow come between the two even though she never meant to.

“Ash.” She started, it was time to clear the air. “I want to explain......all of this.”

“You mean the fact that you thought that if I knew everything about what Georgio had been trying to do I would have tried to knock him out?” Ash asked as he stood up. He reached out his hand to help her up and Misty just looked at it.

He really was something different. He had figured out what her thoughts had been. She shyly placed her hand in his and found herself being hauled up back on her feet.

“It’s okay Mist. I know you were just more worried that I would end up carried away by officer Jenny than anything else. Presides, I can’t be really one to cast judgement on what you did while I was away.” Ash said while Pikachu jumped up to his shoulder.

“But.” Ash continued. “I know just how important those romantic stuff things are to you. I figured you wouldn’t want the choice taken from you. And I’m also certain that the last thing you would want is your first real kiss being given by someone you didn’t choose.”

Turning back to look at her, Misty felt dazed at his smile. “I don’t know too much, but I did know that.”

“You are right Ash.” She said grabbing onto his arm so she could rest her head on his shoulder, and hide her face from his gaze. “It would have been better if he did a different approach.”

“Or none at all.” Ash said as he began to guide them back to the Centre. “Not insulting you but I would have felt better if he had gone after your sisters. You don’t know how to deal with this kind of thing.”

“And you do.” Misty said dryly as she rolled her eyes. The gall of the boy.

“Well, no. But I’m not a Sensational Sister. They should have concentrated on giving you a crash course on dealing with wackos like him. doesn’t matter though. Somehow I feel that because of him you are here now. It is because of how he messed up that I have you here with me. I’m not going to complain Mist. At least, not for now.”

Misty tipped her head up to peer at his curiously. He really did mean it. Hearing something like that from Ash was really something. Iris had admitted to her that Ash had his dense moments when it came to romance in Unova. May and Dawn had admitted the same.

Just maybe this wiser Ash, was here because he was with her. This Ash could be the older Ash only she brought out. If this was true. Misty knew she had nothing to worry about, this Ash she could come to know and trust with everything. She smiled into his shoulder. Georgio was still alive after all.

Ash smiled down at the red head along with Pikachu. When Pikachu was not looking however. He checked his gloved hand. The pain of clenching his fingers in to his palm had not faded yet, but it had done his job, he kept control. The guy was alive, he had not beaten him after all.

This time at least. Next time Georgio came calling, he may not be so lucky.