Chapter 17 (Ash's POV)

I always knew Misty was pretty tough. I guess I'd learned that kinda the hard way too… I scratched at the side of my face before I leaned into my hand and focused down toward the center of the gym. The challenger was a kid, a girl, and it looked like she'd just started her journey because she was pretty young. I smiled a little. I used to be that young and just starting out. Even though I was pumped for it, I remember being really nervous about my first gym battle too. Hard to believe I was ever scared of Brock though. I was wondering what her starter was, since so far she'd only used a poliwag, and a rattata. It was a three on three battle and she was down to her last pokemon now.

I frowned when I noticed the worried look on her face. I felt kinda sorry for her, Misty was tough. Next she called out a charmander, so I figured that must have been her starter. I knew the special bond you have with your first pokemon could turn a battle in your favor, but without the type advantage I knew this would be rough. Misty's dewgong was still going strong and didn't even seem worn out. I didn't really want Misty to know, but I was sorta pulling for the kid instead.

But just like I thought it'd go down, a few attacks later charmander was unable to battle, and it was all over. Moving a little closer I leaned against the railing and stared down at them from the sidelines.

Misty walked over to meet the girl with a handshake and a friendly smile. "Good job, so you said this was your first gym battle?"

The girl nodded slowly before staring down at her feet. It kinda looked like she was taking it pretty hard. "Y-Yes…" The kid looked like she was trying to be brave, but after a second or two she started to cry. I wasn't really sure who to feel sorrier for, the little girl or Misty. Honestly I wasn't sure how I'd handle that, I was used to facing opponents that were tough, and even sorta mean sometimes, but making a little girl cry would have made me feel like too big a jerk.

"H-Hey, you don't have to cry…" Misty started to say and it was pretty obvious that she looked awkward too. But then her face softened a little and she put a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Hey don't be so hard on yourself sweetie…" Misty smiled and then lifted the girl's chin gently. "Most people don't win their first gym battle, you know?"

"Like who…?" The girl mumbled out not really seeming to buy it.

"Hmm let me think…" Misty said with a smirk as she glanced up at me in the stands.

I rubbed at the back of my neck feeling awkward even though no one else had noticed I was there. Why she'd have to keep bringing that up…?

"Like the league champion for one thing."

The girl seemed sorta surprised and looked up at Misty. "Really…? You know the champion, I only saw him on TV?"

Misty put her hands on her sides and smirked. "Well how'd you like to meet him in person, and hear about how badly he lost his first gym battle?"

"Could I?!" The little girl shouted.

I guess part of me was flattered, but the other part was not really looking forward to talking about how awful my first battle with Brock was. Sticking my hands in my pockets I sighed and glanced at Pikachu on my shoulder. "Looks like we better get down there, huh buddy?"

"Pika pi." He nodded seeming to agree.

Oh well at least it was for a good cause I guess, I knew I didn't like seeing little girls cry. So taking the stairs down to the lobby I headed straight for the floor of the pool area. I knew it was just one little kid, but I still felt kinda nervous making an important entrance. But I figured I could just do my best like always. "Somebody wanted to see me?" I said with a smirk as I walked in and pointed my thumb toward my chest proudly.

I ignored Misty rolling her eyes and focused on the little girl instead, she was at least excited to see me. "M-Mr. Ketchum and Pikachu!?" The girl shouted seeming really shocked. Pikachu hopped off my shoulder and ran over to rub up against the girl's ankles. "Pika pi!" He shouted happily before she reached to pick him up and scratch him behind the ears.

The little girl laughed and I couldn't help but smile. I was just glad she didn't seem so sad anymore…

When she finally stopped laughing at the licks Pikachu was giving her cheek she looked up at me. "Did you really lose your first gym battle too, Mr. Ketchum?"

I rubbed at the back of my neck. "Well...yeah it didn't really go so great to be honest… For me or Pikachu."

"You can say that again." Misty added in, and I thought maybe it was a little overkill… Then her face got soft looking again and it was almost strange to see her like that. Almost like it was… I frowned a little not really sure what I meant, it was just...different or… Or something I guess.

"But you see, it didn't stop him from becoming champion someday, and it doesn't have to stop you either." She smiled a little wider as she put another hand on the girl's shoulder. "You can do anything you want as long as you work hard, and don't give up. I want you to remember that, okay?"

The little girl didn't say anything at first, but then nodding her face changed too. It was like maybe she seem a little stronger now. "Thank you, ma'am!"

The kid wanted to hang around a little while and ask me questions about what it was like to be champion, and about different battles I'd had but finally she told us all goodbye. Though I sorta got the feeling Pikachu was more popular than I was…

After she disappeared into the lobby I heard Misty sigh. "Well that was awkward, I've dealt with a lot of sore losers with this job, but never anybody that cried. I felt so bad for her…"

I smiled. "It was a good thing Pikachu and me were here, right?"

Misty smirked. "Yeah sure, or at least it was a good thing you have such an encouraging record of losing anyway."

I frowned and folded my arms. "You know, for somebody who's supposed to like me, you sure put me down enough…"

She huffed out another sigh and rubbed at her forehead. "Oh please Ash, now you're getting overly sensitive on me too?"

I was really kidding, but I kept up the act. "I've always been sensitive Misty, you were just too heartless to notice…"

She narrowed her eyes at me and raised an eyebrow. "What was that?"

I shrugged and cracked a smile. "Oh nothing…"

She rolled her eyes before shaking her head. "Why do I put up with you…?"

I smirked and puffed out my chest a little. "Well I am the champion after all, so you must be pretty lucky to know me, right? Don't you feel lucky, Misty?"

She reached to flick my nose. "Please don't make me answer that…"

I knew she was only joking around so I just smiled, but I guess before I could stop myself I ended up saying things a little seriously. "Well I feel pretty lucky… To know the Cerulean City gym leader, my best friend."

She glanced me out of the corner of her eye with a funny look on her face. "Gimme a break, now I feel like a heel…" She mumbled and I thought she looked kinda embarrassed.

I just laughed. "Don't, because you were really great back there too."

"What, with the battle?" She asked looking over at me.

"Well yeah that too, but I really meant how you knew how to make that little girl feel better."

"Oh…" Was all Misty said before she got quiet. "Um yeah...it did feel sort of strange to me too… I mean and then she even called me 'ma'am' of all things. I guess I feel old to be honest."

I smirked over at her before poking the side of her face. "You're not going to get all wrinkled are you?"

I guess I hadn't quite figured out just how far to push her, because the next thing I knew I was spitting out water after being shoved in the pool. The timing was pretty perfect to embarrass me, because right then was when Tracey walked in. He looked confused about why I was swimming alone with my hat and shoes on, but after a second he just smiled and tried to hold back his laugh. Paddling over to the side I pulled myself out and glared at Misty.

She just smiled back before tossing a towel over my head. Wrapping it around my shoulders and wringing out my hat I turned to look at Tracey. "So what's up?"

He coughed into his hand, and I knew he was still trying hard not to laugh. "Well…" He finally choked out. "I'm not really sure, but the professor said he has something he wants to show us. He said it's good news."

"Hmm good news about what though?" Misty thought outloud.

Tracey shrugged. "I guess there's only one way to find out."

"Oh Tracey, like there you are!" We heard Daisy say as she suddenly walked in with a clipboard and pencil in her hands. "You still haven't told me, like black and gold, white or cream, or even pink maybe? Yeah I actually like pink!" She grinned over at him before writing something down. "Yeah like pink it is. You'll look so adorable in a pink tux, baby."

"P-Pink…?" Tracey choked out, and now it was all I could do not to laugh.

But I kinda stopped pretty quickly when Misty stepped close enough to look ever Daisy's shoulder. She had a pretty evil look on her face… "I didn't know there was such a thing as a pink tux, Daisy…"

"Wow like totally, Mist! Oh wait, do you think you might like one for your little Ashy!?"

Misty smirked over at me, and suddenly I wished I'd never brought up wrinkles at all… "Maybe Daisy, I'll let you know…"

Frowning I shook my head before grabbing Tracey and Misty and dragging them behind me. "Uh sorry Daisy, but we all gotta go, the Professor needs us right away!" I shouted behind us. From the looks of it, I think Tracey was just as happy to get away, or at least how fast he was driving might have made it seem that way…

Frowning over at Misty in the backseat I eyed her suspiciously. "You didn't really mean that, right?"

Misty winked at me. "Oh that just depends how well behaviored you are between now and then…"

I sunk back in my seat. "Somehow I got a bad feeling about this…"

I always knew it was, but I kinda thought it was even more important to stay on Misty's good side now… I sighed and crossed my arms as I stared out the window at all the trees going past. I figured there was still lot I didn't understand about girls…

The drive was mostly long and boring, but after a while and me almost falling asleep on Pikachu Tracey pulled up in front of Professor Oak's lab. "Well guys, it looks like we're here." He said with a grin as he looked over his shoulder at Misty and me in the back seat. With a yawn and a stretch I stepped out. "Ya know Trace," I mumbled almost to myself. "I didn't realize how much faster Charizard made that trip to Cerulean."

Tracey laughed. "Yeah I guess so, but honestly I've driven it so many times I'm pretty used to it by now anyway."

Misty rolled her eyes before smirking over at me. Which kinda made me wonder what I'd done now…?

"That would be because Tracey doesn't mind going the distance to see Daisy, Ash."

I frowned a little. "Hey I've went that far lots of times to see you, but I'd just rather go on Charizard is all I'm saying."

Misty sighed. "You would… Anything if you didn't have to be patient."

I crossed my arms and smiled a little. "Maybe I just didn't want to wait around because I was in a hurry to see you?"

Misty shook her head before laughing a little at me. "That was almost a nice save, Mr. Pokemon Master." Then snatching my hat she put it on and started up the Professor's steps.

"H-Hey wait a second!" I shouted behind her.

"I thought you didn't like waiting?" She said without looking back.

I frowned, feeling a little confused before I looked over at Tracey. He smiled at me before shrugging. "Well Ash, it seems like we both might just end up in the pink after all, huh?"

I scratched at the side of my face. "I sure hope not…" Then slapping my back playfully he laughed. "Oh I don't know, I guess it could be worse, right?"

I thought I got what he meant. Things could have not worked out at all, she could have liked Rudy, or thought I was too ugly or something. I huffed out a sigh as I just stuck my hands in my pockets and followed her up. I guess if you looked at it that way, not even pink was so bad… I frowned. Of at least I was hoping I could convince myself of that…

By the time me and Tracey got inside Misty had already disappeared down the hall and into the main lab room. When I stepped in she tossed me back my hat before she walked over beside Professor Oak.

"So what's the news Professor?"

He smiled up from studying a piece of paper. "Ah so glad you three could make it, Brock should be here any time now too. I have quite the happy news to share with all of you!"

Misty smiled. "Well as long as it's good news I'm all for it."

"The best kind of news I can assure you, Misty." He said as he walked over to a computer screen and flicked it on.

"I hope I'm not late for the party, guys?" We heard Brock suddenly say from the doorway.

Tracey smiled. "Nope, it looks like you're right on time. So what is it Proffesor, a new breakthrough in your research?"

"Even better than that, Tracey!" He said as he reached to adjust a knob and waved his hand for us to come over. "I've been monitoring the ambient background frequencies near the point of the seafoam islands."

"Where we found the last fragment?" Misty asked slowly as her forehead bunched in worry. It almost looked like she forgot whatever the Professor was going to say was good news.

"That's right, Misty. And as it turns out everything has been normal for the last several weeks since then, until recently anyway. Just yesterday in fact, I detected a very interesting frequency." He flipped a switch and played us a sound that seemed pretty familiar.

"Levieil's mating call…" Misty said slowly as her eyes narrowed.

Professor Oak smiled wider. "That's precisely right, though this one isn't from your Levieil."

"What do you mean?" She asked eagerly.

"Well the pattern is very similar that's for sure, but it is still distinctly different. After analyzing it further I believe I know just who it's from. None other than the youngster! Though he must not be so young anymore I suppose."

I frowned trying to figure it all out. "But the baby is only a few weeks old, right?"

Professor Oak nodded. "Yes Ash that's true, but we still don't know anything about the Levieil's life cycle. Apparently their young mature very quickly, because it's already began calling for a mate of it's own. Which is good really, it will be a nice help in bring the species from such endangerment."

"Wait," Tracey asked speaking up. "Are you saying there are more than just the three Levieil?"

He smiled. "That's part of the good new! I've managed to detect other similar frequencies in various parts of the world's oceans. Now that I knew what to look for it was simple really. It would seem that our two were not the only of their kind after all. Though the remaining Levieil are still very limited, to be sure. But I have hope that in time they be able to make a comeback as a flourishing species."

"But…" Misty whispered slowly before speaking up a little louder. "But what about the compatibility? Just another Levieil won't do, right?"

The professor nodded. "Yes of course you're right, and I can't be exactly certain how things will play out in the future for them all but…" Then he looked between the four of us and smiled wider. "But I have detected a frequency responding to our young Levieil. Though she appears to be located several regions away, but I imagine the distance won't be much of an issue. According to the newest readings I've taken just this morning our Levieil is already on his way to meet her!"

I saw Misty close her eyes, and for just a second I thought I saw her shoulders kinda trembling. Almost like she was crying, but I didn't hear her make any noise. Instead she just opened her eyes suddenly and smiled. "I'm so glad… I was so worried about him." Then she smiled a little wider. "After all, he's almost like a nephew to me."

Brock crossed his arms and grinned. "Well it looks like the little guy had it made with love from the beginning." Then he laughed. "I might just be a little jealous."

I guess I thought it was ironic that we'd just been talking about the distances some people go to see the people they care about. I was happy for the Levieil too, but I kinda thought it had just taught me something…

"Well," I started to say slowly. "I don't think he'll mind no matter how far he has to go…" I felt a little awkward suddenly, almost like it was a stupid thing to say, like everyone already knew that.

But just then Misty spoke up, and I thought her voice was just soft enough to maybe have figured out that I was really talking about me. "Yeah, I think you're right Ash…"

And then she smiled at me and thought everything was going to be worth it. Maybe even pink. Maybe…

I guess I wanted to say something else, but before I could my stomach growled loudly. Nobody said anything at first, then they all just started laughing. I rubbed at the back of my neck as my face got a little warm. "Um I guess it's time for lunch, right guys?"

Misty sighed before she started pushing me toward the door. "Yeah well, looks like I better take care of this before he eats one of his pokemon."

"Hey I won't!" I grumbled pretending to be mad.

She just smiled. "With a stomach like yours, we shouldn't take any chances."

I kinda hated that my stomach had gotten in the way back there, but I couldn't deny that I really was pretty hungry. Pallet was so small we still didn't really have any place to eat out like Cerulean City did, but I figured Mr. Mime could whip us up something quicker anyway. Except when Misty and me had showed up mom had gotten all carried away again or something. She said it was too nice a day to just eat inside, so she was set on us having a picnic. Except she was taking forever to get everything packed up.

"I'm so hungry, Pikachu…" I mumbled as I held my empty stomach.

"Pika pi." Pikachu said with a nod, and it kinda seemed like he at least felt sorry for me.

Poking my head around the corner into the kitchen I eyed the pieces of cake mom was wrapping up. I really wished I could just eat one now… And I didn't really see why it mattered if I ate it here or outside under some tree. So when mom turned around to walk back to the sink I crept forward. Narrowing my eyes I looked both ways to make sure nobody was looking then I reached down to swipe one of the pieces. But before I could even touch it somebody slapped my hand, hard.

"OWW!" I shouted as I waved my stinging hand back and forth. Opening my eyes I saw Misty standing across from me with her arms folded and a big frown on her face. It basicly told me I was in trouble again…

"How did you put up with him as a little boy anyway, Delia?" She asked my mom without taking her eyes off of me.

I heard mom laugh. "Oh he always was quite the handful, sweetie!"

I frowned. "I was just gonna take a little peice Misty, I am starving after all, ya know?"

She shook her head. "Yeah I know all about it, but it's funny Pikachu never complains, now does he?" She reached to scratch him behind the ears with a smile. "He always waits patiently to be fed."

I felt an annoyed pout pull my face in both directions. "Now she likes you more than me…?" I grumbled.

"Cha!" Was all Pikachu said, and I think he was too busy getting scratched to even hear me.

"Okay, we're all ready!" Mom suddenly said. "Come on Mimie!" Following them outside I had to wait even more as mom when into the backyard and unlocked our shed. After a few minutes she came back with the two seat bike she usually rode to the store with Mr. Mime on. Putting the packed up food in the basket on the front, she slid into the first seat, and Mr. mime got in between her and the handlebars. Now mon waved toward the empty seat in the back. "Here you go Misty, dear Mimie doesn't mind letting you have his seat today.

"Well thank you very much Mimie." Misty said with a smile as she went to sit down. The only was...well I was still just standing there…

"Um what about me…?" I asked slowly.

Mom smiled. "Oh I'm sorry dear, it doesn't look like there's any room for you now."

I frowned a little depressed now. "You guys just want me to walk behind you the whole way…?"

Mom rubbed her chin a little before she smiled. "You know honey, your old bike is still in the shed. It's probably a little small, but it might do in a pinch.

A little small wasn't really the best way to put it, because my knees were almost bunched up to my shoulders the whole way. I guess being away had meant I never really got a new bike. Though right about now, with Misty and a group of little kids we were passing laughing at me, well I kinda didn't like bikes so much period.

By the time we made it to the park my legs were cramping almost as bad as my empty stomach… But I just thought all the abuse I'd taken gave me even more reason to help myself to as much cake as I wanted. So three sandwiches, and four pieces of cake later I leaned back on the picnic blanket and moaned.

"Satisfied?" Misty asked staring down at me with a smirk.

"A little too much maybe…" Was all I said.

She rolled her eyes. "Big surprise."

"Well I only overeat when I go so long without anything, if you'd just let me have a piece of cake at home then…"

"Then you would have eaten five pieces instead of four. Don't try to convince me of anything different, I know you too well by now, Ash."

I frowned a little as I decided to focus on the clouds above us instead of arguing back. I really didn't want to end up in a pink suit no matter what Tracey said.

After a few minutes of just staring up I almost could have gone to sleep. In the background I could hear mom and Mr. Mime laughing as they picked flowers, and Pikachu, Togekiss, and Psyduck chasing each other in the grass. But right before I closed my eyes I noticed something and sleepily pointed up.

"It looks like a Weepinbell, doesn't it Mist...?" I asked meaning a cloud.

"What?" She mumbled before she looked up and narrowed her eyes as if trying to see it.

"Yeah, right there." I said again.

She smirked down at me playfully. "Ash, that looks nothing like a weepinbell, if anything it's a rhydon."

I frowned a little before just mumbling to myself. "Weepinbell…"

She rolled her eyes again before she let it go and got quiet again. This time I really did think I would get to go to sleep, but right before I did she spoke up again.

"Ash…" She said softly, in a more serious tone.

Opening one eye I looked over at her. "Yeah Mist….?

"The Levieil...it's pretty amazing, right…?"

"What about it?" I asked as I slowly sat up and leaned against a tree.

She pulled her knees up close and rested her chin on them. "I mean how life keeps moving on for everyone… I guess I'm wondering how Leveil must feel now that her baby is grown up?"

I blinked back the last bit of sleepiness as I started out at Mr. Mime putting flowers in mom's hair and her smiling. For a few seconds I didn't really know what to say, I mean I didn't really understand it all either. How it must feel, I mean. But I still remembered that funny look on mom's face when I told her Misty and me were going to get married. So I guess I spoke up before I even thought about what to say.

"Kinda sad, but still kinda happy too I think."

Misty looked over at me and seemed a little shocked at first, but then she smiled. "Yeah, you're probably right…"

Then it all sort of came together inside my head. Almost like all at once the pieces made sense. "That's how you felt about Tracey and Daisy getting married too, right? I mean you're happy, but there's something sad about it too."

She nodded and buried her head in her arms until all you could see was her eyes. She didn't say anything for a while and I'd almost thought we were done talking about it. But then she lifted her head and looked over at me. "Was…" She stopped and swallowed hard before starting to say something again. "Was that the way it was for you each time you had to leave?"

I just blinked at her for a few seconds not really sure what to say. But then I felt my shoulders slump and I looked down at the colors in the blanket.

"Sometimes…" I finally said. I pulled my hat a little lower. "Sometimes it was just sad…" I glanced over at her and I got a funny feeling of my own. Almost like she was trying to ask if I missed her back then.

I smiled a little weakly. "But it was fun to think about all the new pokemon I'd get to see but... " I looked to the side. "But it wasn't the same, ya know?"

But looking back at here she didn't say anything, she just kept waiting for me to go one. So scratching the top of my nose a little I tried to figure out how to put. "I guess what I mean is… I still wonder about everything that's out there. Like all the places filled with new pokemon nobody has ever seen before." I smiled as I jabbed a thumb toward my chest.

"I still really want to see them, ya know?"

"Yeah I figured that…" Misty mumbled slowly, and even though she was trying to smile I could see she looked more sad than anything. But this time I knew why, so reaching to take both her hands in mine I smiled.

"But it's a little different now, Misty." I grinned wider. "Because I want you to see them all with me."

For a second or two she didn't say anything at all, she didn't even smile. It was kind of making me wonder if I'd said something wrong. "Um Misty...are you alright?" I asked slowly.

She looked down and I thought I saw her shoulders shaking a little again. "Are you crying?" I asked finally.

Opening her eyes and looking up at me she frowned. "Maybe. And if I am?" She added almost sounding mad at me.

I smiled a little softer. "Well then I want you to stop. I know you must feel mostly like the Levieil, but I'd rather you just be happy instead. Okay?"

She smirked a little before she sniffed back a few tears. "Fair enough… But you're going to have to give me a little time to get used to you always being underfoot again, okay?"

I rubbed the back of my head with a smile. "Alright sure, whatever you say, Mist."

"Good…" She said quietly before she leaned forward and hugged my neck. It was so tight I kinda thought she might have been trying to hold on to me, to keep me from ever leaving without her again…

I smiled as I hugged her back. I wanted to say that I really wasn't going anywhere, but I figured she'd just have to see for herself. Looking up over her shoulder I saw another cloud and this time I knew for sure what it was.

"Look, an oddish." I said pointing above us. She pulled back and looked up before turning back to me with a grin. "You're getting crossed eyed, Ash Ketchum." Then she reached to pinch the side of my face playfully.

"But I guess it'll match all my wrinkles…"

I grinned. "Yeah I guess so."

She frowned and pulled back completely. "You do know you didn't have to agree with me, right?"

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Oh well…"

Rolling her eyes she hopped her feet and started to walk away before throwing a playfully annoyed look back at me.

I guess I felt a little confused, but right then Pikachu walked up and hopped onto my shoulder. Looking up at him I smirked a little. "Hey buddy, how come you understand Misty better than I do?"

"Pi pika pi…" Was all he said with a sigh before he hopped back down and raced off to where Misty had walked off too. Rubbing up against her ankles, she reached to pick him up and scratch behind his ears again.

"Cha!"

I frowned a little jealous of all the attention he was getting. Standing I brushed the cake crumbs of of me before I jogged toward them. "Come on Misty, what did I say?"

Misty just frowned in my direction before ignoring me and looking down at Pikachu. "What do you think Pikachu, should we put up with him?"

Pikachu seemed to be thinking for a second.

"Hey come on guys...!" I said suddenly feeling left out.

"Pikachu!" He finally said before he hopped into my arms. Misty sighed before she looked up to smile at me.

"Fine...but only if we have to."

I smiled a little relieved, and then she laughed. "But that doesn't mean we shouldn't whip you into shape. Maybe say, a few laps to burn off those couple extra cake slices?"

I rubbed at the back of my neck. "That's funny, Mist."

She smirked. "Really, think so huh?"

But from the look on her face I got the feeling I shouldn't argue anymore… In fact I really got that bad feeling all over again, like maybe I was going to end up in the pink just like Tracey said. So jogging in place a little I grinned.

"But see, I already am in great shape."

Then giving Pikachu a funny look they both nodded before he started to charge up until his fur was fuzzing with static.

"Hey wait-oww! Okay I'm running! I'm running!" Was all I shouted behind me. I kinda got the feeling that I really was in trouble.

Because there was no way I was ever getting rid of Misty now…

FIN

Well there you have it! Hope you all enjoyed reading, and thank you for the reviews! I feel like this story could be followed up on, like there's still a lot of character development to be had. So please let me know if you'd like to see more soon. Stay awesome you guys!