Chapter 33: Coping

Misty

I ran out the Pokémon Center doors, Togepi bouncing up and down as my pace increased. Ignoring all the people around me, I made my way to the closest hiking trail I could find, hoping the trees would shield me from everyone so I could find a place to be alone. In a few minutes, I was far enough away that Emma and Daniel couldn't find me. My breath became a sharp pain with every inhale and I forced myself to slow to a walk. As I did, my ears picked up the sound of running water.

My feet followed the growing noise and I found a shallow stream. I sat down near the water and took deep breaths, trying to force myself to calm down so my eyes wouldn't start watering.

I couldn't really remember the last time I'd cried. Maybe over a year ago when Ash had almost died when we were looking for Ghost Pokémon.

I closed my eyes roughly as if to block the memory. I didn't want to remember what Emma had said. I wasn't going to marry Ash Ketchum. Why would I want to? Of all the obnoxious, immature, stupid, childish-!

If Togepi hadn't been in my hands, I would have wanted to punch something. I shifted her small body so I could see her face.

"Oh, Togepi." I sighed. "What am I going to do?"

"Toge-pri." She frowned.

"I mean, I've always wondered about the future, but I didn't want for it to come visit me, you know?"

"Togi."

"Now it feels like the future is all decided for me, like I have no choice but to accept it." My hands shook. "No, that's not true. I'm going to do what I want with my life."

I thought of Emma, how her eyes had stared with sadness and truth at mine. I did believe her, that she was really my daughter. I could even see little parts of myself in her and, looking back at all our conversations, it was obvious they'd been hiding who she was from me the whole time.

My thoughts then strayed to when Ash, Brock, and I had dealt with time travel. We'd met a boy named Sam who was from the past and helped him get back to his own time. We'd never heard from him again, but he was probably still alive today. Really, he was supposed to be our friend. Shouldn't he have found us somehow in the present so that we could see each other again?

Gritting my teeth, feeling a Psyduck-like headache coming on, I slouched and stared at the stream. It usually calmed me down, the soft sound of peaceful flowing water, but today was an exception.

I'd been lied to, then told the truth to. A truth so distant, complex, and huge that I should never have known it until I'd lived through it. And now that burden was mine to bear on my own.

Without realizing it, I had started crying despite trying to hold myself together. Warm tears slid down my cheeks. Togepi crooned, trying to cheer me up, but I felt too far gone to listen.

"Misty?"

Startled, I whipped my head around. I'd know that voice anywhere- Ash. Taking a deep breath, I turned around so I wasn't facing him, rubbing my eyes to wipe away the tears.

"Why are you crying?" Ash sat down next to me.

"I'm not," I said after blinking a couple times. I was instantly reminded of Emma again, who had lied to me just an hour ago when I asked her if she was crying. She really was a lot like me.

Ash smiled softly. "Misty, I've known you long enough to know when you're lying."

I looked over at him. His black hair was messy and his eyes were childlike and warm. He always looked like he had never been sad in his life with that smile of his.

"Why'd you follow me?" I asked, ignoring his statement.

"You looked upset. I just wanted to make sure you were ok." Ash looked down at his lap as Pikachu jumped from his shoulder to settle there.

"Oh," I said, too taken aback to say anything else. He was worried about me.

"So, what's wrong?"

I stared at him. I couldn't tell him what was wrong, even if it involved him. How was I supposed to say that I just found out we were going to get married and have a kid when we got older and that this kid and her supposed friends were traveling around with us right now?

There was no way I could. I was still trying to process it myself and there was no way he'd believe me. Besides, I couldn't see marrying Ash. It wasn't going to happen. How could I marry him? He was such an idiot most of the time.

I looked away angrily. "Just worried about the future."

Ash frowned. "What's with everyone being so focused on the future today?"

My eyes met his in shock. "Who'd you talk to about the future?"

"Daniel." He shrugged, seeming indifferent.

"Ash," I began slowly, "what did Daniel say to you?"

"He was just wondering if I ever wanted to know the future and wondered if he could change it. He seemed really worried for some reason."

Did Ash know? Is that why he really followed me out here, to discuss something that Daniel had told him? My eyes widened. "Did he tell you anything about the future?"

Ash gave me an annoyed look. "No, I told him I didn't want to know. And even if he did tell us something about the future, why should we believe him? Don't you remember the Xatu?"

I did. The Xatu had been a fraud who couldn't foresee the future at all. "Yeah, but maybe some people know things. I mean, it's a possibility."

Ash laughed. "Yeah, sure."

I scowled. "What do you know?"

Ash's eyebrows turned down. "Hey! I'm just trying to help, what are you yelling at me for?"

We both glared at each other before turning our heads away. He was right- I had no reason to yell at him. It wasn't Ash that I was mad at, anyway. "You really wouldn't want to know about the future if someone could tell you?"

Ash scratched Pikachu's head as he thought. "No. Life's supposed to be an adventure. What's the fun of battling if you already know what's going to happen?"

I blinked, startled by Ash saying something that was wise. Still, now I knew the future and, really, now it seemed like all the fun was sucked out of it. Now all I felt was anxiety and fear.

"Misty," Ash said softly, sounding a little scared, "you're not acting like yourself. Why are you so worried about the future?"

"Can you do something for me, Ash?" I asked quietly.

"Sure." He looked eager, then frowned. "Unless it involves laundry or losing a Pokémon battle."

I smiled a bit at that and he grinned. The muscles in my cheeks felt like they'd forgotten how to form a smile. "Tell me about your future, what you want."

"But you already know," Ash said, then stared at my attentive expression and grimaced. "Fine, I'll tell you again."

He looked up at the trees. "I want to be a Pokémon Master. I'll be the loyal friend and protector of all Pokémon and I want people to battle me all the time so I can get even better and understand my Pokémon so we can be a team. I'd be the very best."

I'd heard this speech hundreds of times and felt a bit impatient. "But what would you do besides being a Pokémon Master?"

"What do you mean?" Ash looked at me as if there was nothing else on this planet to do except train Pokémon.

"You know, where would you live? What would you do in your free time? Will you hang out with your friends or... someone else?"

"What do you mean 'someone else'?" Ash asked blankly.

I scowled. "Do you ever want to get married or not?"

I felt my cheeks get warm against my will.

"Oh, uh, I've never thought about it," he answered lamely, looking away.

"Ash Ketchum, you are absolutely hopeless," I announced.

"Oh yeah? Well, why don't you tell me if you want to get married?" Ash retorted.

"I do want to get married someday," I said loudly.

"Oh really? To who?"

"To-" I sucked in a breath, forcing myself not to answer. I didn't want to marry him, but "you" had been on the tip of my tongue. All the stupid time travel talk was getting to me. I looked away. "Forget it."

Ash was quiet for a couple seconds, then said softly, "I do want to hear what you have to say."

"About what?"

"Your future." He shrugged. "I mean, since it's on your mind you might as well talk about it, right? It might make you feel better."

He'd never really wanted to talk to me about anything except Pokémon, food, and training before, so I ended up staring at him like he'd turned into a Pidgey.

It was a good idea. Possibly the first good idea Ash had ever had. Maybe talking about it, even if I couldn't be absolutely truthful, would make me feel better.

"Well, I want to be the best Water Pokémon Trainer, which means I'd like to capture and train as many Water Pokémon as I can." I paused. "Aside from that..."

Really, now that I thought about it, I couldn't imagine doing anything else than what I was already doing. I loved traveling around with my friends and having adventures. I loved battling and finding new Water Pokémon that I'd never seen before.

Really, this was all I needed. Maybe I got tired of Ash's overactive spirit and Brock's lust every once and awhile, but they were my best friends and life without them, especially life without Ash, seemed lonely. It's not like I'd want to go back to the Cerulean Gym and have to deal with my sisters. They were a pain in the neck and I had nothing in common with them except enjoying the Cerulean water shows. I couldn't obsess over the shows like they did, fighting over what shade of pink the costumes would be, but it was the only thing I could relate to with them. Other than that, I didn't really have anyone else. Just Ash, Brock, and my Pokémon.

"You said you did want to get married earlier," Ash reminded me.

"Yeah."

"So? Talk about that," Ash said innocently.

"Why are you so interested?" I asked suspiciously.

He looked taken aback. "Because I'm supposed to be a counselor type person and this seems important?"

I raised an eyebrow, but let him off the hook. "Yeah, I'd like to get married. As long as I love the person I marry, you know."

Silence.

I plowed through it. "I guess he'd have to be a pretty strong Trainer. I don't like pushovers."

"I'm no pushover," Ash said happily.

"So?" I asked, frowning.

Ash looked startled before trying to compose a stoic expression. "Uh, just stating a fact. Keep going."

"Um." I was still looking at Ash oddly. I noticed his face was a little red. "I don't know, Ash. I just like life the way it is now."

"So you really like traveling around with me that much, huh?" Ash said smugly. "I thought you were only along because I owe you a bike."

"I am," I said furiously. "And I'm not leaving until I get it."

"So you're saying that if, for the rest of your life, I never get you a new bike, you'd just... stay?" Ash asked quietly.

I glared at him.

"I wouldn't mind, you know. It's nice traveling with friends." He looked towards the stream.

"You still owe me a bike."

Ash smiled.

I realized that I felt a lot better, even though we hadn't solved anything. Besides, just because I knew what might happen in the future, it didn't mean I couldn't enjoy the present now.

And that was something I needed to do.

"Thanks, Ash," I said softly. "I guess you're not as immature as I thought you were."

He gave me a lopsided grin and stood up, holding out his hand. "I have my moments."

I smiled and grasped his hand. Ash helped me up, letting go of my hand quickly, and we headed back to the Pokémon Center together.

You've gotta love Ash and Misty. 

Pokemon Question of the Day: If you could find out what happens in the future, would you? Why?

Till next time.

-Flips