A/N: This story is dedicated to everyone who was nice enough to vote for my stories in
the readers choice awards. Enjoy the fluff. ^_^

Disclaimer: Pokemon isn't, and will never be mine. Happy?!!!!!


                      Sometimes A Hat Is Just A Hat                

A sandy beach, a beautiful sunny day. This was the setting for are heroes' day off.
Misty has just competed in, and won the Whirlpool Cup tournament and she and Ash had
both decided it was time for a little break. So here they are, relaxing, enjoying the quiet of
the ocean.
Ash was lying on a towel with Pikachu sleeping next to him. Misty was about 25 feet
away, polishing her sliver Latios-topped trophy.
Thinking. Ash was thinking about the years. Many years had gone by since he began his
journey. Four long years. All right, so it wasn't that many years, but to Ash it felt like a
million. A million adventures, a million laughs, a million tears. Ash was 14 and he was
traveling with his best human friend Misty. They were now both very respected Pokemon
trainers. Ash having won the Orange League , and the Advanced League, and Misty fresh
off her victory in the Whirlpool Cup.
Things were great. That's what Ash thought. He was growing up, changing. They both
were, actually. But that's what's supposed to happen. Ash had never thought much of
evolving. He didn't believe the process was necessary. But then again, he also didn't
realize that he'd be evolving himself someday. He was turning into a man. He thought
about this as his eyes wandered into the depths of the ocean in front of him.
Becoming a man. Yes, I suppose it is a very important change. And it seems today is the
day that Misty decides to take note of it too.
"Priiiii!!!!" cries Togepi excitedly as Misty tries for the 100th time today to fit her now
extremely shiny trophy into her overly stuffed backpack.
"It just won't fit Togepi," Misty states dejectedly while Ash's backpack manages to catch
her eye.
'Now to get his permission.'
"Oh Aaaaash!!!" Misty calls out in a sing-songy voice.
"Hmmmh," Ash hmmms in response as he struggles to open his eyes.
"My really big trophy doesn't seem to fit in my backpack, and I was wondering if maybe
I could put it in yours..." Misty questions sweetly.
Ash raised an eyebrow at her in amusement.
"...Uh, you know, you being such a strong man and everything, I'm sure carrying it will
be a piece of cake for you. Please?" Misty adds for good measure while giving him big
doe eyes.
Ash waved a hand at her. "Go ahead, I don't care."
Misty smiles and was about to put her trophy away when Ash...
"...By the way, I would have said yes. You didn't have to add the last suck up comment."
Ash says knowingly while he lies back down on his blanket, a comfortable smile on his
lips.
Misty was a little surprised by the way Ash responded to her.
'He never...how did he...He's been hanging out with me too long.' Misty decides that is
the case. And it was the case, sort of. They have known each other for a very long time.
They have been together 24/7 for 4 years. He's bound to pick up on her tricks eventually.
The problem is, is that all he's picked up on?
Misty opened Ash's green backpack.
'A lot of junk,' Misty thought as she took a quick peek through the clutter that is Ash's
backpack.
She was about to stick her trophy in when she noticed something shining on the bottom.
She managed to pull out... 'Ash's old Orange League trophy and...' She pulled out a
badge shaped object. '...the participation badge from the Indigo League.'
Wait, there was something else.
'His Advanced League trophy. He really deserved this.' She thought  proudly as a smile
crept to her lips.
As she carefully put the trophies in Ash's backpack she also took note of the squished
Official Pokemon League hat sticking out of the front pocket. Yes, many things have
changed with Ash.
She closed the zipper, took the hat and placed it on her head. With a smirk on her face
and the hat on her head, she headed towards the lounging Ash.
"Hey sleepy head."
Ash, once again, unwillingly opened his eyes. This time he was greeted with the hat-clad
Misty who was grinning childishly.
Ash was amused.
"Nice hat."
"I think it looks better on me, but what do you think?"
"Uh, I don't think it goes with your outfit." That was true, but there wasn't much for it to
go with. Misty was only wearing a skimpy, black bikini. But Ash wasn't complaining.
"Ha ha." Misty says sarcastically, but not seriously.
"So what do you want now?"
"Oh, I was just thinking that...you've really changed. You know, since I first met you."
Ash gave her an "oh really?" look.
"I mean, you're not the same bratty, little, inexperienced, wannabe Pokemon master that I
first met. You've really grown up."
"Really?" Ash asked a little to excitedly.
"Uh huh. You've definitely matured a lot."
Ash let a chuckle escape from his lips. "That's right, I forgot you liked mature guys."
No sooner did the words leave Ash's mouth that Misty turned tomato red in outrage, and
embarrassment.
"What?! You...I...You think a lot of yourself!!!"  Misty screamed in anger and proceeded
to shout out put-downs that were sure to leave Ash bewildered.
"You think that just because you win a couple of competitions the whole world must like
you! Well I got news for-for you Ash. I don't like you! You are just a self-centered,
egotistical j-jerk! Next thing you know you'll be saying that I'm in love with you too!"
At this, Misty turned even redder and continued to rant illogically while taking off Ash's
hat and throwing it in his lap. Ash could only stare as Misty stormed off.
"Me, in love with him?! Ha!! What a ego! Of all the nerve! I have a good mind to...."
Misty was now out of site as Ash was, you guessed it, left bewildered.
"What just happened?"
Pikachu rolled over and let out a few pi's, ka's and chu's.
"Pikachu, chu pi ka chu chu." (Apparently she's in love with you.)
"Pikachu?!!" Ash was surprised that Pikachu would even suggest such a thing.
Pikachu gave him a "I'm serious" look before he shook his head, rolled back on his side,
and began to grumble away in Pika language.
"Just because a guy chooses licking himself as a way of maintaining personal hygiene,
he's automatically labeled a dumb animal."
Ash had a humorous expression on his face as he turned away from Pikachu. He sat in
thought for a minute about what Pikachu just said.
You could see an idea pop into his head as he smiled at his old Pokemon League hat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Misty, after just changing back into her regular attire, was searching through her
backpack for a scrunchy to tie up her wet hair.
'I know it's in here somewhere...ah! Here it....'
Misty began to pull out what she thought was her scrunchy, but instead it just turned out
to be...'Ash's hat! How did it get in here?' Misty only had to think about this for a second
before a blush rose to her cheeks and a grin appeared on her face.
"Hey Mist! Hurry up! We got to go!"
"Coming!" With that said, Misty packed the hat gently back into her backpack, and ran to
join Ash.
Some say the hat symbolizes something in this story. Luck, youth, maturity, change,
friendship, love, a bond. But it could also just be a worn out old hat that a guy gave to a
girl because he likes her. ^_~

The End


A/N: Wow! My first one-shot fic in an while. As you can see, I don't do too many of
these. I guess my style is rambling on for several chapters until a story is over. I was
thinking before I started writing this that there might be a second chapter but now that's
it's written I think it would be better left like this. And yes, I know the hat thing has been
done several times before, but I think it fit this story, and besides, I've never done it
before so =P. Okay, I've got to rant, so I'll do it here. If you don't want to here it you can
click the back button now. This is your last chance out. All right, I warned you. As many
of you know fanfiction.net has been done for awhile and it looks like it will be a long
time before it's back up again. What I am asking you now is for a favor. I need people to
please provide feedback for my recent additions to my stories. I haven't been able to get a
good idea about what you guys think. So please do send a email my way, it would be
greatly appreciated, and those who have already responded, I thank you. And if you ask
for one, I would be more than happy to give you a teaser for the next chapter of one of
my stories, or all of them(your choice). I'll also tell you when an update will most likely
happen. So again, please do review if you like any of my stories. It's just a click away.
P.S. Thanks to everyone who voted for my stories in the readers choice awards. It really
meant a lot to me and I hope you enjoyed this story, because this is my thank you to you. ^_^