Chapter 35: The Gears Are Turning

As I rounded the corner, I bumped into someone.

"For the last time Daniel, can you please be louder when you-" I noticed the shape of the person was much different as I took a step back and evaluated the much skinnier, young version of my dad. "Oh. Sorry Ash."

"What's going on with Misty?" he asked seriously, locking eyes with me. It was the first time I'd seen him so concerned about a person since we got here. Life threatening situations didn't count. Either way, his determination reminded me of his older self.

I tried to come up with something and decided as close to the truth was best. "Well, Daniel did a pretend fortune telling thing earlier today and she got really stressed about the future. So she's been thinking about it a lot and since we're all wrapped up in time travel stuff, it's really been on her mind."

He stared at me. "You're the ones from the future, aren't you?"

"What?" The word escaped my mouth in shock.

"How would you know what time Celebi took these friends you told me about to? They'd find a way back before you'd have to leave to get them. Right to the present time they left so you'd know they were ok," Ash said. "It's you and your friends that really time traveled."

"Are you mad?" I practically peeped out, like every single time I felt like I was going to get in real trouble by him.

"I don't get why you would lie. So yeah, I'm mad." His hand tightened into a fist by his side, "We're flying all the way to Ilex Forest for you and you've been lying about who you are this whole time. My last time traveling friend lied. And you knew about it... So who are you?"

I took a shaky breath. This couldn't have been happening. It really couldn't. I couldn't tell my dad that I was his child. He was a kid still. My mom bearing it was hard enough. I knew this would warp the time stream past recognition and I most likely wouldn't exist.

Before I could say anything, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry about who she is, Ash."

"But..."

"Don't worry about it. I trust her," she said gently.

Ash's eyebrows furrowed as he tried to figure out why she would side with me when she had just stormed off in a Dragon Rage. His never wavering morals battled against his trust. His fist slackened. "Fine."

Ash continued down the hall. Misty's hand fell off my shoulder.

"You stood up for me," I said, still not believing it.

"He can't find out." She wouldn't look at me.

"Thank you." I whispered.

Misty's blue eyes met mine. Moisture framed them delicately. "Don't think that makes anything different between us."

"I know," I said, though there had been a flicker of hope that everything was fine now.

"Be as truthful as possible with him," she warned. "But don't ever tell him that."

"I promise I will be. And I won't."

Misty hurried towards our room. I took a deep breath, pressing my back against the wall.

"Em."

I looked up to see Daniel's concerned eyes, too distracted by the roller coaster of emotion I was on to be scared by his unexpected appearance.

I sighed, in relief instead of annoyance for once. "For the last time, can you please be louder when you approach me?"

"Let's take a walk so I can be loud then."

The forest swarmed with bug Pokemon. And Hoothoot and Noctowl. Basically a lot of noises. It was great for a discussion about how I had fought with my mom, her denial of my existence ever happening and wanting nothing to do with me, fought with my dad for making my mom upset as he tried to question who I even was (because he still had no clue), and then was rescued by my mom, not knowing whose side she was really on. If that wasn't family drama, I didn't know what was.

"This is a very Hariyama situation," Daniel noted. "I'm sorry."

"You'll be even sorrier if you keep saying sorry."

Just to make a point, he leaned in close. "Sorry."

I pushed his face away. He chuckled.

Even with all the stress, it felt nice walking. Everything was better between Anthony and Amanda despite things going on between my parents. We were really close to finding Celebi. Really, in another day we would be back and not have to worry about lying to my dad. I could apologize in the future, or present, for lying to him and he could ground me or whatever. And everything would be back to normal. Right?

Daniel paused, putting a hand out so I wouldn't walk any farther. I stopped. He put a finger to his lips.

A slight squeal echoed behind us. I pulled Daniel into a giant bush, ducking. He silently positioned himself to peer through some leaves, giving me enough space next to him to look out.

"Ash! Why did we have to meet when all the bug Pokemon were out!" Misty hissed.

"I needed to talk to you away from everyone," he murmured.

I froze. So he had the same idea as we did about privacy.

"Well let's stand over here. I don't see any Bug types."

They were even closer to us now. I tried not to breathe loudly.

"Why do you trust Emma so much?" Ash asked.

"I kind of bullied some answers out of her," Misty admitted. It felt kind of like a lie.

"Well, who is she?"

"You were right that they're the ones from the future. She was scared to tell us."

"Why would that matter?"

"Because then we might ask questions about how the future turns out."

"...Wait." I could practically hear the rusty gears of his brain starting up. "But Daniel talked to you about the future."

"Yeah. But he was making things up. He's a jokester like you," Misty said hurriedly.

"Do you think that he knows if I'll be a Pokemon Master?" Ash asked excitedly. "Wow, that's really cool. I mean, if they're from the right time. What time are they from exactly?"

"I don't think that's something we should find out, Ash," Misty said quietly.

"Why not?" Ash argued. "What's the harm in knowing things?"

"What happened to your attitude this afternoon? When you said you didn't want to know the future?" Misty retorted.

"That's when it was a fraud. Now it's real."

"Stop that."

"Stop what?"

"Stop thinking you know what you want! You don't." Misty yelled. "No one should know the future. It's a good thing they're not telling anyone."

"Don't tell me what I want."

"Fine. I'll tell you what you need." Misty's voice rose, "Mind your own business and don't even think about asking them about the future. They won't tell you."

"Then I'll refuse to show them Celebi."

"You wouldn't."

"You don't know where he is. Only I do."

"I could find him."

"Good luck trying."

"Ash, what is so important that you would want to know? Who says they even know anything about you?"

Silence. "Then why have you been so torn up about the future lately if they didn't know anything?"

More silence. Ash continued, "They're important people. I don't know who they are, but you seem to. And I can't believe you wouldn't trust me enough to know."

"I can't believe you wouldn't trust me enough not to tell you." Misty's voice was thick. "I only keep things from people if there's a good reason."

"You know that's not true."

"So you never keep things from me either?"

"That has nothing to do with it."

"Please, Ash. Just don't ask them. For me."

"What do I even get out of it?"

Misty's breathing was shaky, but her voice was firm. "I'll tell you something."

"Like that I smell worse than a Gloom? No thanks."

"No. I mean I'll tell you something about me."

"Like what?"

"I can't tell you that now or it wouldn't be a deal." She seemed half teasing and half exasperated.

"You promise it's good?"

"I think it is."

"Worth me agreeing to such a weird trade?"

"Yes."

"Fine. I guess I'll agree. Since you're getting so worked up," Ash muttered. "Are you crying again?"

"No."

"You're not a good liar, Misty." Ash paused. "That's how I know your end of the deal must be huge."

I peered through the leaves, watching as my dad gently touched my mom's shoulder. He pulled away quickly. "I'm sorry for not trusting you."

"Do you usually trust me, Ash?" Misty whispered.

"Er." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean, I sleep with one eye open just in case you decide to strangle me when I'm asleep. But besides that... yeah."

She smiled.

"Let's head back," Ash suggested.

"Yeah. Brock is probably getting into trouble."

"He went on a rant about stained books before you came to dinner. It was a nightmare."

Misty's laugh petered out as they walked away. I became aware of Daniel smiling at me and gave him a look. "What?"

"They'll be ok," he whispered.

"They're always ready to bite each other's heads off," I retorted.

"Among other things," he countered softly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked in annoyance as he stood up, heading back for the Pokemon Center. "Hey! Answer me."

Do you know how much fun it is to write conflict? Wow I sound evil. I'm not. Well, I'm not good. I do bad things. But usually it's more like I eat too many cookies or I'm selfish. Not evil villain evil.

Anyway.

Comment below! Your thoughts! I love to hear them.

Pokemon Question of the Day: What IS that supposed to mean? (Meaning what Daniel said) Because, you know, Wynaut. CoordinatorIza, you are banned from this question.

-Flips