Ch 4

ASH FIGHTS...FOR MISTY?

OK. Here’s the last chapter.

NOTE: Those characters are not mine, they are owned by the producers of Pokémon.

And on with the story... Yes, Misty was captured by Cassidy and Butch and Ash and the rest were going to rescue her. Will they succeed? Here is the answer…

Misty wasn’t having a pleasant time with those cruel TR members, Cassidy and Butch. She wished Jessie and James had captured her. Even if they would always get Ash into trouble, even if they would always try to steal Pokémon, they were good villains in the end. They wouldn’t hurt anybody who wasn’t able to defend itself. And, sometimes, they would even help people. However, Cassidy and Butch were different. They were really cruel, heartless people. They would do anything for their Boss, even murder.

Now, they were showing Misty how cruel they were. Misty was tied on a chair, surrounded by Scythers, whose swords would make cuts on her skin and give her pain every time she moved. That wasn’t all. While bringing her, Cassidy and Butch had harmed her a plenty. She was already bruised and wounded.

Misty, who understood what Cassidy and Butch were up to was hopeless. Ash, who hated her, and wanted her to be away from him, would give his Pikachu to rescue her. To rescue a brat he hated? Fools. Anyway, even if Ash agreed to do so, Misty wouldn’t let him, she would never want Ash and Pikachu to fall apart.

By the while, the others were looking for Misty everywhere. “Please, don’t let anything happen to her, please, please…” Brock was praying inside. Misty wasn’t only a good friend, but also a sister for him. He had missed him so much, and if anything happened to her…

Pikachu was thinking the same with Brock. Misty had been always nice and gentle to it, sometimes even better than Ash.

And…Ash? First, he was greatly regretful. If he hadn’t been so rude to her, Misty wouldn’t leave. If she hadn’t left, she wouldn’t have been captured. Stupid Ash!! Then, he was worried. Misty meant a lot to him, he had to apologize to her. She was his best friend after all. If only he had told this to her before, if only…

Even though they were enemies, Jessie and James were worried for Misty, too. They knew Butch and Cassidy better than Ash and co. did, and they could guess how Misty was. They explained Ash what Cassidy and Butch wanted to do, and this made Ash even more worried. To save Misty, he had to give Pikachu… Wasn’t there another way to rescue Misty, without risking anything?

“Pi pikachu…” shouted the little yellow creature suddenly, while pointing at a cottage.

“C’mon, hurry up if you wanna save that brat, twerp!” said Jessie to Ash.

After a short run, they arrived at the cottage, and stood in front of it. While they were standing, the door opened, and Cassidy appeared. “So, you’ve found us at last! We knew you would come…” and she laughed sarcastically.

“Where is she? What the hell have you done to her!” yelled Brock.

“Calm down, kid. Butch!”

After a few seconds, Butch appeared, holding Misty firmly, dragging her to door. Then, he asked: “Is it her you’re looking for?”

Ash and co. were shocked. Misty was looking really miserable, her hair was in a mass, there were some stains of blood on her shirt, and her arms and legs were bruised. She was also very tired.

“Misty!” shouted Ash and tried to pull her back, but Butch didn’t let. “Go Ivysaur, and tie her!”

Ivysaur obeyed its master, and tied Misty with its whips. Misty neither put up a fight, nor shouted. She was too tired and shocked even to talk.

Cassidy and Butch took her to the back of the old cottage and tied her to a tree. Ash, Pikachu and TR instantly followed them.

“Free her now. Quick!” Ash shouted. He sounded… worried? Misty also heard him and slowly lifted her head up and looked at him. Yes, he looked worried as well. Ash was worried for her. She became a bit lively.

“Oh… So, it looks as if this girl means a lot to you…” said Butch with a sly look on his face.

“Of course she does!!” answered Ash, losing his control for a second. Misty’s scream of surprise made him realize what he said. “I mean…” he tried to cover up, “Every people in danger are important…”

“Let’s make an agreement, twerp, girl for your Pikachu.”

There was a moment of silence. Ash, who had been expecting this, felt a great wave of desperation inside him. Pikachu and Misty… They both meant a lot to him…

“No Ash!” shouted Misty, breaking the silence. “Don’t give Pikachu to them!”

“But you…” he tried to answer.

“Never mind. Take Pikachu, and leave…”

Ash was standing still. What should he do?

“Why are you standing like that, you brat! Go and rescue her! Go, Arbok…”

“Go Weezing!..”

“You too, Onix, Vulpix!”

What? Pokémon battle? Why couldn’t he think about it? Because he was madly worried? Anyway…

“Oh yeah, go Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Pikachu, Chariza… no, not you. And do all your attacks…“

“Go Raticate, Drowzee…”

And so the battle started. Misty frowned with pain, the rope was too tight, and it hurt.

Ash took the advantage of the situation and approached to Misty. He tried to untie the knots, but it made Misty only hurt more.

“Ash, that’s no use, there are Scythers all around, they’ll cut you into pieces if you’re caught, take Pikachu and go!!”

“I’m not going anywhere without taking you out of this place!!”

“Why have you come? You said I meant nothing to you. Why do you put yourself in danger for a trouble-maker like me? I don’t worth this. I can’t separate you from Pikachu…”

“No!” Ash shouted. “I’ll save you both. Because you… I, me…”

“You little agitator, what are you doing there?” said Cassidy.

The battle was over and Cassidy and Butch were still not beaten. “The conditions are not changed, give Pikachu, rescue the girl.”

Misty shook her head, wanting to say “No.” She was happy inside, she meant something to Ash. If she wasn’t, he wouldn’t be so confused. He considered Misty as a good friend, indeed.

“You can have neither of them!” was Ash’s reply.

“Really? Butch!”

Butch threw some pokéballs around Misty. Bugs came out of them. Bugs! Caterpies, Weedles, Kakuna and Metapods.

Misty screamed. She was afraid of bugs. “No! Don’t… touch… me…No!!!” As the bugs touched her, she was screaming, trying to move and escape.

While they were watching the scene in horror, Pikachu suddenly took one step forward. “Pi!”

“Pikachu!” said the others. “What? Are you going to go?” demanded Ash.

“(For Misty, Ash)” Pikachu answered.

“No!” opposed Misty between her screams. “No! If you want to do something for me, stay with Ash, Pikachu! Ooww…” Bugs were still walking around.

“That’s OK.” she murmured. “Hold on!” She closed her eyes.

“Misty!” shouted Ash, this time with fear. Misty who heard this was sure this time.

“Misty!” Brock echoed. “Leave her!”

“We don’t wish to keep her. Hand us Pikachu first.”

Ash became thoughtful. Misty was still shouting, saying him not to leave Pikachu, and trying to be calm.

Suddenly, Pikachu turned to Ash and blinked his eye. Ash got Pikachu’s plan. A sarcastic smile appeared in his face. “OK. You win. Here’s Pikachu.”

“Ash!” the rest shouted in unison, even Jessie, James and Meowth.

Ash looked down. “Goodbye Pikachu.”

“Pii…”

“Great…” muttered Cassidy. “Raticate, go!”

“Chuu……” and Pikachu gave them a thunder shock.

“Great, Pikachu!”

“Now, it’s our turn to have fun.” said Jessie, who had understood Ash’s plan, and sent out Arbok.

“Revenge! Arbok, go and hit them with all your might!”

And so, Arbok backed up, and then sped up forwards, and hit Cassidy, Butch and Raticate very fast. They flew up like Jessie and James always did. Unfortunately, it hit Pikachu also, by mistake, Pikachu flew forwards.

“Pikachu!” shouted Ash, and began to run, hoping to catch it.

The others had already shut their eyes.

“Chuuuuu…” and…BOOM!!

“OOWW!!”

And a thunder shock. Everywhere was covered with smoke.

“Pikachu! Are you OK?” yelled Ash, and began coughing.

For minutes, there was silence. It lasted until the smoke dispersed.

“Pikachu, are you all right?” Ash shouted again, nearly crying.

“Yeah, fine!” a voice answered him.

“Misty!”

“Misty was still tied against the tree, unable to move. Fortunately, Pikachu had hit her, and wasn’t harmed. Misty was nearly OK also, apart from the thunder shock Pikachu gave her, thinking she was Cassidy.

Ash and Brock came instantly, and began to cut the ropes which were half-burnt with the thunder shock. The bugs were fainted by the thunder shock also.

“Are you OK, sis?” asked Brock after freeing her. Then he saw the cuts made by the rope on Misty’s arms. “I’ll prepare a lotion for those. I’m glad you’re OK.” he said, and left, leaving her alone with Ash.

“Why, Ash, why did you come to rescue me?” she asked. “Risking Pikachu?”

“Why shouldn’t I?” was Ash’s reply.

“I mean… The fight… All those you said…”

“And you really believed those!” said Ash, with a warm smile. “Don’t you know I even don’t know what I’m saying when I’m angry?”

Misty still seemed confused.

“Look,” Ash continued, taking Misty’s hands in his, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any of those. I’d be glad if you continued to travel with us. I mean, I haven’t paid for your bike yet…”

Misty smiled at this. Yes, Ash had apologized, and wanted her to come with him. Why shouldn’t she?

“Thanks Ash…” was all she could say. “OK. I want my bike back. And…” she stopped.

“What is it?” Ash looked into her eyes.

“I…I…” Why couldn’t she say?

“Prriii…” she was interrupted by Togepi, who was very happy to have its mother back.

“Oh Togepi, darling!” and she hugged the baby.

“Misty… What would you say?”

“Oh… N-nothing. Never mind. I’ll tell you sometime later.”

Ash was clueless again. He nodded and said nothing. “I already know…” he thought.

“Guys…” it was Brock. “Have you seen James, Jessie or Meowth? We should thank them! They helped us to rescue you, Misty.”

Misty wasn’t so surprised. But where was TR?

“Jessie, why didn’t we snatch the Pikachu and leave while those twerps were talking?” asked James.

“Well, I don’t know. We will do it another time, it wasn’t the right time.” replied Jessie.

“Yeah, meowth, and those kids looked so cute!” added Meowth, eyes watering.

“Oh yes, the twerp apologizing from the girl… He is such a hero and a gentleman…” supported Jessie.

“Oh yeah…”

“And we’re heroes also…We also saved her…”

“It’s so nice to be good…”

“Oh, guys…”

And they all hugged each other, and began crying anime style (you know, tears squirting like a waterfall.).

“Pikachu, thank you, you saved me.” and so, Misty gave Pikachu a kiss on the head. Pikachu smirked. Ash looked jealous.

“Oh, thank you also, Ash… and Brock.” and she gave them both a kiss on the cheek also. Ash blushed, while Brock laughed.

“I wish I could thank TR also.”

“They already know it, Misty.”

They were back on their way to Violet City, for Ash to collect new badges.

“OK, and we’ll go this way!”

“No Ash, didn’t you hear what Gary said, this way.”

“No, this.”

“This!”

“Misty!”

“Ash, you’re getting on my nerves.”

“You, too.”

“And you still haven’t paid me for my bike.”

“And I don’t intend to do so…”

“What?”

“Nothing. I’ll pay you, one day. C’mon!”

“This way.”

“Guys, why don’t we look at the map?”

“Idiot.”

“Scrawny.”

Everything was back to normal at last, Ash and Misty fighting, and Brock calming them while thinking of girls. But there was something now, between Ash and Misty, which none of them said, but both of them knew,-that they loved each other (more than as a friend?).

-the end-

---It’s over, finally. Did you like it? or do you hate it? Please let me know: lucky_sans@hotmail.com .I know, it may not be such a romance story, but I can’t put it in another category. Thanx for reading!