An Unusual Turn of Events
Chapter 5: Second Thoughts!?
by Kenshin

The day of the wedding had arrived. "Ahhhh....where's my cumberbun? Where's my tie? Where are my cufflinks?" Ash screamed. "Calm down Ash," said Brock. Good old Brock. He was solid as a rock. Ash was glad he had his best friend there with him as his best man. He couldn't get through this without him.

"Here," said Brock, "put this stuff on! Hurry up now! It's almost time for you to marry the girl of your dreams!" Brock held out all of the missing pieces of Ash's tuxedo. Brock, of course, was already dressed. He looked nice with his hair parted and styled, instead of the unruly mass that usually dominated the top of his head. Ash, however, looked absolutely...what was the word...handsome? Yes, he was definitely handsome. That's what his mother had said before she had rushed off to help her soon-to-be daughter-in-law with her dress.

"Misty..." Ash sighed as his thoughts wandered to his fiance. She was the best thing that had ever happened to him. Better even than the title of pokemon master, if you can believe that was possible.

Before Ash knew what was happening, he was standing at the end of the isle, fidgeting nervously as he waited for the wedding march to begin. He turned to his best man for a reassuring glance.

"AHHH!" Ash screamed. "What's wrong Ash?" asked James, looking concerned. "You're not getting cold feet are you? Ooooo!"

"AHHH!" Ash screamed as he woke up. "Woah, what's wrong buddy?" asked Brock, yawning. 'I better tell him now. I can't take this anymore,' thought Ash. "Brock..." "Yeah?" asked Brock, coming fully awake. "You know you're my best friend, right?" "Sure," he stated, "Why? Something wrong?" "Well..... how do I put this? Brock.....I picked somebody else to be my best man," Ash said simply. "What?! Who?!" Brock was stunned. He had assumed that he would have the all-important role. After all, who else deserved that honor?

"It's....James," said Ash quietly. "JAMES?!?" Brock had an expression on his face that was somewhere between total confusion, shock, and outrage. "Well, he's the one responsible for us getting together," said Ash. "Okay, that may be, but I'M YOUR BEST FRIEND! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?" asked Brock. Ash flinched. "I know, I know," he said, "Actually, I'm having second thoughts..."

Ash heard a gasp behind him and turned to see Misty standing in the doorway, sobbing. (Ash, you made her cry, you jerk! MALLET! MALLET!) "Misty! How long have you been there?" Ash said nervously. "Ash...*sob*...why didn't you...*sob* tel me...." she cried. "No! Misty! It's not what you think! I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I guess I thought you could just find out at the wedding..." Ash said, scratching his head.

"ASH KETCHUM!" she screamed in rage, "WERE YOU GOING TO LEAVE ME AT THE ALTAR?!" "YIKES! No! No! Misty, calm down! That's not what I meant," Ash said, trying in vain to calm her down. 'I guess she didn't hear the whole conversation...this doesn't look good.'

"Misty, wait, let him explain," said Brock calmly. That caught Misty completely off-gaurd. "Ummm...okay," she said, calming slightly. She walked over to where Ash was standing and sat on his bed. "Go ahead Ash," she said quietly, her eyes still wet with tears. Ash sat down beside her quietly. "Misty, I wasn't having second thoughts about you. That would never happen in a million years!" he began. "I was having second thoughts about who I chose to be my best man," he explained.

"You mean...you don't want Brock to be your best man?" she was confused, but she had stopped crying. 'That's good....maybe she's not mad anymore,' Ash thought. "Why the heck don't you want Brock to be your best man?" she said testily. 'Guess I was wrong...'

"I *do* want Brock to be my best man, but I already promised somebody else that he could be," Ash elaborated. "Oh," said Misty quietly, "Who?" "James." "WHA?! JAMES?!?" she was shocked, "Ash Ketchum! James is not going to be the best man at my wedding!" "But Misty, he's the one who actually got us together," said Ash, "He's kind of like our match-maker or something."

*AHEM* Both Misty and Ash looked at Brock as he cleared his throat to get their attention. "Excuse me, but I was working on getting you two together long before James was." "WHAT?!" they said in unison. "So...if it wasn't for my foundation work James' plan never would have worked. Besides, you two liked each other from the start or you wouldn't be engaged right now, right?" Ash mulled this over in his mind. "Yeah, I guess so, but that doesn't change the fact that I already told James he could be my best man...."

"Well, Ash, try to find a way to get him to decline," said Misty, "I really don't want James to be your best man." "I'm sorry. Now that I think about it I don't know why I told him that. I guess I *wasn't* thinking." "Ash, when do you ever think?" asked Brock. "Hey!" said Misty and Ash in unison. They looked at each other, blushing. "Oh, brother. Okay you two, I'll be downstairs getting some breakfast..." he said, leaving them alone.

NEXT CHAPTER: PLANS WITHIN PLANS!