Hidden love part 7

Ketchum caught in scandal!!!!!!

Future pokemon master Ashton Ketchum is more like a pokemon disaster. Last night at about 9.30 pm. wildly popular Ketchum was arrested for trespassing on the local beach “Sailor Bay”.
“It wasn’t the first time I caught him sneaking around” a very furious security guard exclaimed, after his brilliant security system was violated. “I repeatedly told him that he wasn’t aloud on the beach after six!! When he returned last night I was forced to take action”
Ketchum was sighted frolicking and drinking with an extremely gorgeous redheaded young woman, according to the guards.
Ashton, already quite friendly with the hostess “Mistara Waterflower” (a redhead herself), denied that the woman was the hostess and told the police that it was a local woman, that he had just met and that he didn’t know her name.
Today there will be a congress around 10 am. to determine Ketchum’s fate in the competition. As a result all matches today have been postponed. However it was announced that the traditional tournament party would still be held tonight at eight at the Sapphire Plaza.

Although there isn’t any proof, that the woman on the beach was in fact the hostess, Ketchum still faces disqualification from the prestigious Alivon City tournament.
“Never, in the history of the Alivon City tournament has there been such an embarrassing scandal. Mr. Ketchum did not only humiliate himself, but everyone involved in this tournament” said George Anderson, a tournament judge.
“Mr. Ketchum is most definitely the biggest mistake in the tournament’s history. He must be disqualified!!!”

Alivon Times
22 sept. 2010


Misty finished reading the front page of the morning paper, shock written all over her face.

“Oh god…poor Ash,” she muttered in disbelief, letting her eyes stroll over the dreadful words once more.
Her shock was replaced by fear, when she heard a foot tap repeatedly on to the wooden floor behind her.
She turned around; preparing herself for the blow that was going to come.

“Is it true?” Carlos whispered dangerously.

“What do you mean?” she asked inconvincibly.

“You know what I mean” Carlos bellowed. “I told you not to see him!”

“I know, I know……poor Ash” Misty whispered, playing with a strand of her hair.

“ I don’t care about that moron, I care about you”

“Yeah right, you only care about my career. You never gave a damn about me. You have no idea how much Ash means to me”

“Oh please he’s just a silly little crush that could, by the way, end your career!!” Carlos stated sarcastically.

“He’s not a crush Carlos, I love him!!” Misty bellowed.

“Honey, you don’t know what love is!”

“You will never understand what Ash and I have together!!!”
Misty burst in to tears and turned her back to him

“Talk to her!” Carlos exclaimed , as he looked at Brock and Misty’s sisters who had appeared in the doorway a while ago.
Carlos stomped out of the room, muttering angrily to himself.

Brock looked at the fuming man walking towards his office and than back at Misty, who had not stopped crying.

“Misty, what happened?” Daisy asked worriedly.

“Yeah, why was the competition put on hold today?” Violet asked nervously. She had a feeling she already knew the answer.

“This is what happened” Misty sobbed, throwing the paper at them.
Brock caught it and squinted his eyes in concentration, as he started reading.
Daisy, Lily and Violet stood behind him on tiptoe to get a better look at the paper, their eyes widening in horror as they read on.

“Oh, Misty” Lily muttered, after they had finished reading. “I knew we shouldn’t have let you go”

“Wait a minute you knew about this!” Brock asked, looking at the three women.

“Oops!”Lily muttered.

Brock who had been in girl- crazed mode all day, while in the presence of the three women now looked angry and confused.

“ I wanna know what’s going on here!!!”

“Brock don’t be mad at them, they only wanted Ash and me to make-up”Misty exclaimed, wiping away a tear.

“Make-up?” Brock asked even more confused.

Misty told Brock everything about how she and Ash had a row two nights ago and how they had made- up the previous night.

“…and he told me he loved me too” Misty ended with a sigh.
Brock stared at her for a while. He was flabbergasted.

“O, he told you he loved?” Daisy, Lily and Violet shouted in unison. “Awwwww”

“It’s about time!!” Brock shouted grinning.
Misty giggled, as she wiped away another tear.

“But wait a minute, when does the arrest come in to the story?”

“Well we were caught by the beach’s security guards. Ash told me to escape and he covered for me and now he faces disqualification, because….of me.”Misty sobbed, fresh tears streaming down her face.

“They say they’re not going to fire me, but they are going to keep a close watch on me from now on”

“ Misty ….where’s Ash now?”

“I don’t know. I hope he’s okay”


Alivon police station.

“I demand you let my baby go this instance”

“You’ll have to pay ma’am”

“Yes I’ll pay, just let him go!!”

“$1000, -, ma’am”

“For one night in jail?! Fine take the money and let him free”

Delia handed the porky man the money, thanking god she had two 500-dollar bills in her wallet.

“One minute, lady” a younger police man uttered. He shuffled his way towards the iron door that led to the prison cell.

Delia heard the tinkle of keys and the loud squeak of a rusty door opening.
Ash sauntered threw the doorway.

“O, sweety are you okay?”Delia exclaimed, running over to Ash and hugging him.

“Yeah” Ash muttered. “I’m fine”
He looked exhausted and filthy.

“What were you doing trespassing” she shouted, hitting him on his arm.

“Ow, ma!!”

“God, didn’t I raise you right?”

“Mom, can we go, please!” Ash muttered, not wanting to discuss the matter in front of the police.

“Fine, but we are talking about this later!!”

“Yes, mom…. lets go now”
Ash and his mother walked to the door. A policeman opened it, revealing a massive crowd of reporters.


“THERE HE IS” a man bellowed. Hundreds of cameras went off at the same time, as Ash and Delia made their way threw the crowd.
The most outrages questions were shot at them.

“Mr. Ketchum do you have a weird obsession with redheads?”

“Ashton is this woman your new girlfriend? So you like older women too?”

“Why I never” Delia exclaimed, after hearing this. Ash took a hold of her hand and dragged her towards her blue car, screaming: “None of your business” over the large crowd.

“Outrages” Delia uttered as they finally made it safely in to the car.
Ash sighed as the reporters banged on the car window.

A few policemen ran out of the station to hold them back.

“Mom, step on it”
Delia started the car and stepped on the gas pedal.
The car shot forward, forcing reporters to jump out of the way.

“Lady are you crazy, you could run someone over” a man shouted.

“It serves you right” Delia spat back. And with that they drove out of the parking lot and out of sight.


“So is it true?” Delia asked keeping her eyes on the road.

“Yeah, I’ve been caught trespassing.”

“I know that, but was the girl Misty?”

“Yeah” Ash muttered not looking at his mother.

“Wow finally” she mumbled. Ash looked up confusedly at Delia.

“Yes, I knew…a mother always knows” she giggled, feeling Ash watching her.

“But what about Catherina? You looked pretty mitten with her as well”

“O crap, Cathy” Ash uttered, thinking about how she would react when she found out he was with another girl the previous night and that that girl was Misty. “She’s gonna kill me”

Delia fell silent not knowing what to say. She wasn’t about to interfere in her son’s relationships.



They reached the pokemoncenter and parked the car.

“There he is!!”

“Oh no not again” Ash exclaimed exhaustedly, seeing a big crowd of reporters run up to their vehicle.
He stepped out of the car, ignoring the questions they were asking him.

“Ketchum, what did you exactly do with the hostess on the beach?”

“Can you tell all desperate men out there the secret to your success with women?”

“Mom come on, we gotta get in to the center as soon as possible”

Delia and Ash ran to the entrance of the center with the paparazzi on their heel.
The guards held the paparazzi back, as they entered the building.

“You can’t come in here…step back!!” they bellowed over the huge crowd.
One guard tried to push the reporters out of the building, while the other one pressed the doors shut.

“Are you okay” asked Nurse Joy.

“Yeah” Ash muttered, watching the guards close the door with great difficulty.
The reporters took a few shots of Ash and Delia threw the glass door and then left disappointedly.

“Pikapi” (Ash) cried Pikachu jumping from nurse joy’s counter in to his arms.

“Hey buddy, sorry I didn’t pick you up sooner…I was delayed”

“Pikachu pika kapi ka” (I heard about it)Pikachu said. “Pi pik pi Pikachupi pik pika chupi?” (So you told Misty you love her?)

“Yeah” Ash whispered. For the first time that day he sounded happy.

“Pik”( And)

“She loves me back”

Pikachu grinned slyly.

“Ash go up to your room and get some rest” said Delia. “You look beat”


“O, Ash there’s a young woman waiting for you in the lounge room, she looks really livid. Must have been really worried about you” said Nurse Joy smiling.

Ash and Pikachu looked at each other with concerned eyes.
“Pika chu kapi chupi pikachu pi pik kapi chu” (Hey at least you have a good reason to break up with her, now)
Ash closed his eyes feeling nervous.

“I’ll be in the centers cafeteria if you need me, sweetheart” chirped his mother, walking away.

“Okay mom….you better stay here, Pikachu” he muttered.
Pikachu nodded and jumped back on nurse Joy’s counter.

“Pika chu” (Good luck)

Ash shuffled towards the lounge room. He knew what was coming and had no idea how he would get himself out of it this time.

“I love Misty. Pikachu’s right this is the perfect time to break up with Catherina” he thought.

Ash turned a corner and saw a girl sitting on the couch with her back to him. Her long blond hair was tied in to a low ponytail.

“Cathy” Ash muttered
The girl turned around to look at him. Her eyes were bloodshot and she looked tired.

“Ash, are you okay?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine” he replied a little confused.

“I was so worried” said Catherina standing up from the couch. She walked over to him and cupped his cheeks in her hands.

“Cathy, I’m…sorry”

“No, Ash. Please don’t say that if you don’t mean it” Catherina muttered.

“I’ve been thinking for the last three hours “

“Thinking about what?”

“About our relationship and I’ve realized I’ve been wrong all along. I’ve tried so hard to get you to feel deeply for me. As much as you obviously feel for Misty, it was her on the beach right?”

Ash nodded.

“But now I’ve realized that it’s impossible to get you to…love me, if you already love someone else.”she finished faking a smile.

He was silent.

Catherina’s blue eyes filled with tears.

“I just want to know why you kept lying to me about her”

“Uhm…it’s cause I felt…feel something with you. I just can’t explain it. It’s not exactly love jet, but it’s close. And I think that if Misty wasn’t here and if I didn’t see her, I would definitely be in love with you”

“Then forget about her and be with me,” she muttered emotionally.

“Sorry Cathy…I can’t”
Catherina looked at the ground, tears falling from her eyes.

“I’m sorry” Ash muttered again. He bent down and gave Catherina a kiss on her forehead.

“We can still be friends, right?”
Catherina nodded and looked up in to his eyes.

“See ya at the party tonight?”Ash asked.

“Yeah” she whispered, wiping away a tear. “I have to leave…I’ve got to go to the salon”

“Okay”

“By the way I won’t tell anyone about you and Misty” she said, walking towards the door.

“O thanks” said Ash feeling guilty.

“Bye, then” she whispered, grinning widely and forcefully.

“Bye…Cathy”


Manky hotel.

“Daisy, turn on the TV. It’s about to start”

Daisy walked up to the TV, turning it on.

“What’s about to start?” asked Brock.

“They’re showing a recap of the congress, on the midday news“ said Misty.

“O”
Misty sat in between Lily and Violet on her bed.
Brock sat on the ground next to Daisy, grinning sheepishly at her.

“It’s starting” Violet exclaimed, nervously.

“RBC news at twelve”

“Ladies and gentleman welcome to RBC news, I’m David James.
Today there’s only one thing going threw everyone’s minds and that is the faith of Ashton Ketchum” started the news reporter

“Ketchum has been arrested last night for trespassing on a local beach in the company of a woman who looked very much like the hostess “Mistara Waterflower”. Today at 10 am a congress was held to determine if he would remain in the competition or be disqualified.
Lets join Harold McAllen in the congress room for further details.”

“Thank you David” started the bearded man. “Today was a harsh day in the congress room, as there was a big disagreement between the tournament judges. They were debating about Ketchum’s faith. And only RBC news was there to witness the intense dispute”

The scene changed abruptly to a screaming George Anderson(tournament judge, read article at the beginning of chapter).

“This is outrages,” he bellowed, his mustache bobbing up and down furiously. “I can’t believe that you would even consider letting him continue to compete in this tournament…and I thought you were a noble man, John”

“How dare you attack me personally? I’ve given you very good motives why Ketchum should remain in this competition”

“Yes, George…be rational.” Added the oldest looking man in the group.

“I will not rest till I see Ketchum out of this tournament” said Anderson.
And with that the scene changed back to Harold McAllen.

“The judges have not come to an agreement. As a result there will be a poll held. All judges, ceremony masters and even the hostess herself are obligated to vote. The results will be publicized tomorrow at precisely 6 am on RBC morning news. Back to you David”

Misty shuddered nervously as she looked at the television screen absentmindedly.

“O god, what have I done?” she whispered.

“Misty it’s going to be all right, they haven’t decided anything yet” said Violet.

“I should have chosen a safer place to go” Misty muttered, running her fingers threw her hair. “I never knew they would make such a big deal out of it”

“Look at it this way, Misty, at least you get to vote for him to stay in the competition.” Said Brock.

Misty nodded unconvinced.

There was a knock on the door.

“Come in” Misty exclaimed exasperated.

“Uhm miss waterflower, Mr. Rodriguez (A.K.A Carlos) wants you in the dressing area for gown selection” said a man, standing in the doorway.

“O great, Misty. You get to pick out your gown for tonight” Violet chirped excitedly.

“I mean all those wonderful gowns are bound to cheer you up”
Misty shrugged.

“To tell you the truth I wouldn’t care if I go in jeans to the party”

Back at the pokemon center

Ash watched the television screen absentmindedly. He had just watched the midday news and the possibility of not becoming a pokemon master had just sunken in to him.

“O ****” he muttered, turning off the TV.

He watched the little rodent sleeping on the couch beside him and petted it lightly.
His mother had come up to his room a few minutes ago with pikachu in her arms to say goodbye. She was going to go to her hotel room to pick out the dress she was wearing to the party this evening.

“What am I going to wear to the party, actually?” Ash thought nervously.

“And…do I have to dance?”

He anxiously ran his hands threw his hair. Sure he could dance, but he never felt comfortable doing it in front of a lot off people. Come to think of it they would probably be waltzing the whole night and he knew very little of waltzing.

“****! As if I haven’t got enough on my mind,” he muttered. “Maybe Pikachu knows what to do.”

Ash shook Pikachu awake.

“Pika kapi pi?” (What is it?) he asked grumpily.

“Pikachu, do you know how to waltz?”
Pikachu looked at him for a while with a blank expression on it’s face.

“Pikapi, pi pik kapi pika chupi pik chu ka” (Ash, if you can’t waltz do you think I can?)

“O god” Ash muttered covering his eyes with his hands.

“I know I just won’t go….o wait I promised Catherina, I would be there”

“Pikachu, pika pik” (I thought you broke up with her) Pikachu muttered angrily.

“I did, but we decided to remain friends”

“Pikachu pika kapi chupi ka chu pi ka pikachupi pikapi cha pi pikachu” (I hope you didn’t tell her that it was Misty, you were with on the beach)

“Yeah, but she promised she wouldn’t tell anyone” said Ash.

“Pikapi, pikapi, pikapi…pik pi cha pikachu” (Ash, Ash, Ash…you are so naïve)

“Why?”

“Pikachu pi pika pik pika chu chu klapi kapi ka pik pikachu pikachupi….pik pi kapi pik pikachu pik ka” (It is obvious she tricked you in to admitting you were with Misty…and now she can blackmail you for anything she wants)

“O come on, Pikachu, Cathy is not like that…you don’t know her”

“Pikachu pik kapi chupi pik pik chu ka pikachu kapi pik pi”
(It is obvious I know her better than you do, she’s as jealous as they come)

“That’s not true, Pikachu!!” Ash said defending Catherina.

“Pika chu kapi pikachu , pik pi cha pikachu pik kapi pik” (Fine, don’t believe me, but don’t say I didn’t warn yah)

“O, come on Pikachu. You never liked her, that’s why you’re saying that”

Pikachu jumped off of the couch ignoring Ash.

“O great now you’re mad at me too!! I’m going threw hell right now, I need your support.”

Pikachu didn’t reply and walked in to the bathroom. Ash flung a pillow at him. It missed his head barely, as he closed the bathroom door with his front paws.

“Damn it, Pikachu” Ash muttered, lying down on the couch and burying his face in a pillow. He yawned lightly, but couldn’t fall a sleep because of the butterflies he felt.
The fact that he would have to waltz without any experience, while his “faith” was being decided was not too comforting.

He closed his eyes and softly whispered: “Misty”

She was probably the only thing keeping him sane. He smiled softly as he recalled how she looked the previous night. Her blue eyes, her long red hair, her nice bronzed legs and now she was all his.
He remembered her smile, that insanely beautiful smile.

“O gosh…I’m definitely in love”
Ash yawned once more, not getting the image of the beautiful girl out of his mind


“Hey Ash” Misty whispered, looking as beautiful as ever.

“Mist” he whispered, smiling.

“Dance with me Ash”

“Ofcourse” Ash replied dreamingly. He took a hold of her left hand with his right hand and her waist with his left.

“God you’re beautiful” he whispered.
Misty giggled as Ash started dancing to no particular beat.

“Ash…”

“Mmm?” he replied, smiling.

“Don’t ever leave me”

“I won’t”

“Don’t ever leave me”

“I won’t, I swear I won’t”
Misty touched his lips with hers.

He looked in to her aqua blue eyes.

“Ash is there someone else?”

“No…how can you ever think that”

“What about me, Ash?” asked Misty her eyes gleaming falsely.

“What about you?” Ash asked, looking confusedly at the girl.
Misty’s eyes turned a deep blue, her once red hair color transformed in to a yellowish tint and different lines formed in to her face.

“Cathy?”

“O, Ash…don’t think you can forget about me”

“What?”

“I’m never letting you go. No matter what.”
Ash tried to wring himself out of her grip, but she held on tightly to him.

“Cathy…don’t do this”

“I’m never letting you go” she let out once more. Her face split in to an ugly grin.

Ash sat up on the couch. He felt clammy from the sweat and he looked panicky around the room. Pikachu had come out of the bathroom and was napping on his bed.
Ash breathed heavily as he stood up from the couch and ran his hands threw his hair.
He shook his head furiously, repeating: “It can’t be true” over and over again.


“How long have I been a sleep?” he muttered looking at the alarm clock on his night desk.

“Three hours!!” he muttered in disbelief. “And I still haven’t figured out what I’m wearing or how I’m going to pull of the waltz.”

Tring, tring, tring”

“Who can that be?” he muttered exasperated, unlocking the door and opening it

“Hey buddy” said a grinning Brock, holding up a suit bag. “Misty thought you might need a suit”

“Brocko…you’re a lifesaver”

Brock entered his room and threw the bag at Ash.

“So you in trouble now aren’t yah, didn’t I warn yah” he said looking at the sleeping Pikachu.

“It’s hard enough, without you rubbing it in.” replied Ash.

“So lots of parazzi, ha?”

“Geez…you wouldn’t believe what I had to go threw to get to the center. What they bug you too?”

“Nah, came from the back door”
Ash looked at the suit bag in silence.

“So…you and Misty, ha?”

“Yeah” Ash muttered. “Can you believe it?”

“No…well yes…yes I can” Brock chuckled.

Ash chuckled too shaking his head. “Was it that obvious?”

“O yeah” Brock smirked.

Ash grinned slyly. “I love her, Brock”

“I know and she definitely loves you back”

“Really?”

“Yeah, you should have seen her this morning…she’s crying like hell over you”

Ash chuckled in awe and blushed.

“But what about that Catherina girl?”

“We broke it off?”

“She was mad, ha?” asked Brock, screwing his face up in sympathy.

“Not really she took it really well”

“Really, after the way she reacted the last time I visited, I could have sworn you were laying in here bleeding to death.” He chuckled.

Ash shrugged. He didn’t want to tell him about what pikachu had said and about his dream.

“I hope you know. I can’t keep visiting you like this” Brock said, crossing his arms.

“Yah know with that whole disqualification thing, it’s best that I’m not seen with you, if I’m seen with Misty.

Ash nodded in agreement.

“Hey Brock”

“Yeah?”

“Do you know how to waltz?…”


8 o’clock at sapphire plaza hotel

“Finally” Ash muttered, after he had found a parking space for his car.
He turned off his vehicle and looked in to the mirror to see if his hair was okay.
It was a miracle he was still alive, after the paparazzi had followed him halfway to the hotel.

Ash stepped out of his BMW and locked the door.

He walked up to the huge edifice, feeling butterflies in his stomach.
Hundreds of cameras went off, as he walked threw the huge doorway of the exquisite hotel.

“Ashton over here, smile for the camera”
Ash walked quickly to the ballroom of the hotel, ignoring the cameramen and reporters.

“Here we go again” he muttered, cameras flashing every where.

He looked around in awe once inside the huge ballroom.
The walls looked like they were made off gold and most of the floor was covered with red carpet. The dance floor was made off a sparkling tile and sure enough there were people already waltzing to the music of an orchestra.

“Great” Ash muttered, unhappily as he recalled the quick dancing lessons Brock gave him that very same day.

He looked around to see if there were any familiar faces.

“****, not even mom” he muttered. He had seriously hoped that he could have brought Pikachu, but there weren’t any pokemon aloud in the prestigious hotel.
Ash looked around the room once more to see if he hadn’t overlooked anyone…but he knew no one. There was only this one man who kept grinning at him. Ash watched him walk over, still grinning wildly.

He looked around to see if there was anywhere he could hide before the man reached him. The man couldn’t mean any good if he was grinning at him like that.

“Ashton, Ashton, Ashton” he said, his grin looking more like a grimace from close up. Ash looked at him awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

“Ofcourse, ofcourse…you don’t know anything about me…but I know all about you” he beamed, putting his hand firmly on Ash’ shoulder.

“George Anderson is the name”

It suddenly hit Ash, that this was the same tournament judge who wanted him out off the competition. He looked very different now that he was “smiling”

“Waiter two champagne for me and the young man”
The waiter walked over to them holding a tray with glasses. He looked between the two men.

“I’m sorry sir. But I’m afraid he’s underage.” He said, obviously knowing Ash’ age.

“Who cares? He’s gotten away with so much…why not a glass of champagne” George said. His grin had definitely changed in to a grimace.

The waiter shrugged and held the tray down for Ash and George.
George took the small glass from the tray and looked at Ash in anticipation.

“No, sir…I don’t want to,” he said looking at the tray.

“Nonsense…after all you managed to down a whole bottle of whine last night,” George muttered, his grin fading completely.

The waiter walked away quickly, sensing danger.

“Look I’ve worked in this tournament for 20 years and I’ve never experienced something as embarrassing as this problem. Now I don’t know how to prove it, but I definitely know that you and Mistara are going together and I am going to do anything in my power to get you out of this tournament…mark my words” he muttered perilously.

He left Ash standing in the middle of the room looking like a sick puppy. Ash looked around to see if anyone saw or heard that and sure enough a few people at a nearby table were looking at him. They had serious expressions on their faces, a few of them shaking their heads disapprovingly.

It suddenly hit him that it probably wasn’t only George who wanted him to leave the tournament.

He looked around quickly trying to get an idea where he could sit. He wanted so much to get away from all the prying eyes.

Ash saw the trainers that were competing in the tournament all sitting together around one table.

They were talking vividly to one another, often laughing and giggling.
Ash walked up to the table, smiling happily at the people.

“Shh, shh” said a teenage girl with a pony tail Ash recognized as Tori Jillano.

Ash’s smile faded at the sight of their faces.

They were talking about him.

“I don’t care” he thought pulling out a chair next to Adam Borter.

“No way dude, this seat is taken” he muttered. “But I think the hostess sits at that table”

The trainers all chuckled.

“Is it true?” asked Alissa Agarata, a look of great interest upon her young face. “You and the hostess?”

“Don’t ask stupid questions…ofcourse it’s true” muttered a girl, Ash hadn’t met before.

They smirked again.

“Aren’t you a little too young to be here?” Ash said, scowling.
He let the chair go and looked around the room, desperately in search for any familiar or caring faces.

“Hey, Ash” said a voice from behind him.

“Thank god” he muttered turning around to see Catherina.

He walked over to her.

“You look great” he whispered, referring to her wavy blond hair and tight light blue gown.

“Thanks” she giggled.

“You can sit next to me”

“Sure” said Ash excepting her proposal happily.

She took a hold of his hand, grinning widely at him.

He returned her grin with a smile.

They walked towards her table, his smile fading at the sight of the scowling people sitting around it.

Catherina sat down and motioned for Ash to sit on the chair next to her.

Ash sat down avoiding the people’s gazes.

“Is it me or does everyone hate me” he muttered.

“Don’t be silly, Ash” said Catherina smiling at him.

Her smile looked so fake…so false in his opinion.

“I’m imagining things,” he thought.

He looked at the dancing couples absentmindedly, often hearing a “hmpf” or “tsh” behind him.

Somebody at the other end of the dance floor was waving happily at him.
Ash squinted his eyes in concentration and realized that it was his mother waving at him. She was probably the only person in the whole room happy to see him.

He waved back, grinning slyly.

The orchestra played the last note of their song, followed by applause.

An overweight woman in a glittery red gown stepped on to the stage.

“Ladies and gentleman…welcome to the traditional tournament party” she spoke with a strong English accent.

“Please give a warm welcome to our beautiful hostess…Mistara Waterflower”

All eyes went to the top of the staircase…where Misty would appear.

Loud gasps could be heard as four beautiful women came into view. The crowd clapped enthusiastically at the sight of Misty in a strapless golden gown with tiny golden rocks on it. Her hair fell in soft waves past her midriff.

Daisy, Lily and Violet grinned forcefully, knowing that all the applause was meant for Misty and not for them. Ash’s heart almost jutted out of his chest at the sight of her.
He looked at the ground gulping miserably.

The women were accompanied by Carlos and Brock who walked behind them in matching black tucks.

The crowd was still clapping loudly, including Catherina who to Ash’s surprise even dog-whistled.
She looked at Ash and gave him the same fake wide grin.
Ash smiled back at her, but didn’t dare look back at the stage, as he felt eyes watching him.

They were probably daring him to look at Misty in any inappropriate way.
The applause died down as Carlos, Brock and the four women took a seat at the table way in front.

“The large woman took the stage once more and bellowed in the mike: “Well, shall we dance!!”

The crowd clapped enthusiastically as a lot of couples took the dance floor.
The orchestra started playing an upbeat waltz.

“Dance with me, Ash!!!” said Catherina, giving him the same wide grin.

Ash hesitated for a moment, but gave in when he saw the anticipating look Catherina was giving him.

“Sure” he muttered.

She almost ran to the dance floor, dragging Ash by the hand like a kindergartener.

Ash took a hold of her waist and her hand once on the dance floor and slowly but surely he started waltzing to the beat.

It went pretty good, as he didn’t step on her feet once.

“My, my Ash…you’re quite the dancer” she whispered.

Ash grinned happily, making her laugh at him.

He looked around at the couples dancing in circles. His eyes wandered of to where Misty was sitting.

She looked miserable as she caught Ash’ eye.

“Probably mad that I’m dancing with Cathy” he thought.

He wanted so much to take her in his arms …embrace her and reassure her that she was the only girl for him…but he couldn’t.

“You like her a lot don’t you” Catherina whispered with the same scary wide grin, as
she looked between the two of them.

“Yeah, I love her.” He whispered, smiling absentmindedly.

“Mmm” she replied still grinning insanely.
They danced to the fast melody of the orchestra, often making funny faces if seeing a stiff old couple dancing.

Ash kept stealing glances at Misty who was now talking vividly to Brock.


“So, Ash” said Catherina after a while of dancing. “You know who that man is?”
Ash looked behind him to see whom Catherina was pointing at.

“Yeah…that’s George Anderson…he’s just praying for me to get disqualified” he said looking back at her. She still had that insane grin on her face, as he twirled her around.

“I know,” she whispered.
Ash looked at her confusedly.

“You see Ash…when I want something I always, always find away to get it”
Ash looked at her, confusedness written all over his face.

“I want you Ash. It’s as simple as that…or at least I thought it was simple.”

“What do you mean?” he asked frightened, almost tripping on her feet whilst dancing.

“Don’t play stupid with me, Ketchum… you know exactly what I mean. Look I’ve got a lot of very important connections in this organization. Break up with Misty or there will be consequences.”

Ash gasped in disbelief. “You told me you weren’t going to tell!”

“It’s about time you found out that not the whole world wants to bow down before you, Ash”
“You can’t do this,” he muttered, shaking his head in horror.

He stopped dancing, making other couples crash in to them.

“I can’t believe you’re doing this,” he muttered, ignoring their scowling faces.

“I’ll let you think about it” Catherina said, winking at him.

She walked of the dance floor still grinning triumphantly.

“O ****” Ash muttered feeling sick to his stomach. All the dancing and twirling people were making him queasy.

“Get off the dance floor, you fool” yelled an elderly man in a blue suit.

“Sorry” he muttered walking of the floor.
He looked back at Misty, only to see that she was dancing with none other than George Anderson.

She looked nervously in his direction as George whispered something in to her ear.
He was probably repeating what he had said to Ash no more than two hours ago.

Ash gulped nervously as he sat down at an empty table. He felt like he wanted to crawl under the carpet and die.

It was bad enough he had to endure wondering rather he was going to be disqualified or not. Now Catherina was forcing him to be with her, instead of Misty. There would be no happy ending if he left the competition or stayed. He would either lose his title as pokemon master or lose Misty and if he would have to choose he knew exactly what he would go for.

“O, sweety there you are” said a voice interrupting his thoughts. Delia sat down beside her son, caressing his cheek lightly.

“Hey, mom” Ash muttered tiredly.

“O, honey you sound sad…what’s wrong.”

“I’m just worried about the verdict” Ash lied. That was the least of his worries though. He looked at Misty, almost wanting to cry.

“Don’t worry, everything is going to be alright…after all it’s not a competition without you”

“Thanks mom” said Ash, seeing Catherina wink at him from across the room. He felt his stomach squirm.

“Come, dance with your mother”

“Mom…not now”

“Come on Ash “ said Delia.

“Oh…alright”
He stood up and took Delia by the hand. They walked on to the dance floor and started waltzing.

“Now I know why you are such a ladiesman” said Delia impressed with her son’s dancing skills.

Ash turned a deep shade of red. “Ma!!”

“It’s true isn’t it”

Ash looked beside him at a dancing couple, too embarrassed to look his mother in the eye.

“O ****” he muttered, as he saw that it was Misty and Carlos.

They caught his eye and waltzed quickly in the other direction, often crashing in to other couples.

Catherina was dancing not far away from them as well with none other than George.
Ash looked at his mother and smiled forcefully.

“Ash, what’s wrong”

“Nothing…just tired” he replied, well aware that Catherina and George were a few feet away from them. If he told his mother what was wrong they might overhear him.

“May I cut in?” asked a bulky man in a gray suit. He smiled friendly at Ash and gave him a tiny wink.

“I’ve been wanting to dance with this pretty lady for a time…you don’t mind do you?”

“O no sir, go ahead” replied Ash.
Delia giggled like a schoolgirl and blushed as the man kissed her hand and took a hold of her waist.

Ash beamed at his mother and then left the floor.

He sat down on a chair at the same empty table resting his head in his hands.

“Caviar, sir” asked a waiter.

“No, thank you”

The waiter left not throwing him a second glance. Ash looked at the dancing couple, receiving a few winks from Misty’s sisters or Brock.

“Champagne?”

He looked up to see a grinning Catherina holding up two glasses of champagne.

“Cathy…why are you doing this?”

“I already told you, Ash” she replied still grinning. “Did you break up with her yet”

“How can I break up with her if I’m not even aloud to speak to her”

“Just find a way… quickly” she whispered.
“Do you think you can force me to love you…I’m sorry, but it doesn’t work that way”

“We’ll see about that” she muttered triumphantly.

“You can force me to do anything, but you can’t force me to stop loving Misty”

“Hmpf” she muttered still grinning.

“Your little plan is not going to work, cause I’m dropping out of the competition”
Catherina’s sly grin disappeared abruptly from her face.

“Well…I..I…you can’t …what about your title as pokemon master”

“I don’t care about it…I love Misty too much”
Catherina looked at him with a panicky face. She couldn’t believe that he loved Misty so much that he would give up his dream just to be with her.

She took a deep breath and then grinned at him again. He looked back at her confusedness written on his face.

“Well if you drop out, I’ll still tell Mr. Anderson about your little fling with Misty and then she’ll get fired”

Ash looked at her in disbelief.

“Why would you do something like that…what can possibly make you think I can fall in love with you if you do that”

“Ash…everything is possible,” she muttered standing up and walking away. She looked back at him and winked.

Ash sighed miserably.

“I can’t believe this is happening” he thought, looking at Misty, who was now sitting and looking at the dancing couples absentmindedly with a sad expression on her angelic face. O how he wanted to be in her arms at the moment. He wanted her to hug him, caress him…kiss him.

Brock stood up and asked Misty to dance with him, but she shook her head. He shrugged and asked Violet to dance instead and she happily accepted.

Misty smiled at Brock and Violet as they joined the mass of dancing people.

Her eyes wandered off in search of something and stopped searching when they rested upon Ash.

They looked at each other for a while, desperately wanting to walk over to the other.
Misty then tore her eyes away from him, gulping heavily.

“Misty” Ash whispered lightly.


“Excuse me, excuse me…can you stop playing for one second please”
George had taken the stage and was talking in to the mike with a smug look on his old face.

“For god sakes stop playing” he bellowed impatiently.

The orchestra stopped in the middle of the song they were playing. Everybody was looking at George in anticipation.

“Yes, yes…as you all know…we are already two and a half hours in to the program. That is already half of the party and aren’t we having fun!!”

The crowd clapped enthusiastically.

“Now there was this tradition…about 20 years back…where the hostess would dance with any particular male trainer in the competition midway threw the party.” He started.

There was a lot of muttering threw out the room as he said this. Ash looked at the table where the masters of ceremony and judges were sitting and they all wore confused looks on their faces, giving the “impression” that they knew nothing of such a tradition. They would often turn to another to whisper in their ear.

“What’s he got up his sleeve” Ash thought, fearing the worst. He had a feeling all this had something to do with him. (Duh, you think)

“And I’ve decided to bring this tradition back to the party” Mr. Anderson finished.

Misty squirmed in her seat, as she knew what was coming.

The whole room was quiet to hear what would happen next.

“Uhm, let’s see…who is worthy of dancing with the hostess” he said, looking around the room. “I need someone spectacular, someone canny, someone like…Mr.Ketchum, perhaps”

The whole room gasped and turned around to look at the scowling Ash.
Brock, Carlos and Misty’s sisters looked between the two of them in horror.
Delia covered her mouth with her hand as she gave a tiny squeal.

“Unless Mr. Ketchum doesn’t want to dance with the hostess for certain reasons”

A few people in the crowd started laughing.
Adam Borter made chicken noises, but stopped immediately when seeing the look Brock was giving him.

Misty looked like she was going to cry as she looked at Ash.

“Come on, Ketchum…you’ve already got lots of experience with her. Why not give us pointers” screamed someone. The whole room burst out laughing, including George.
Catherina held her hand in front of her mouth giggling along.

Daisy put her hand on Misty’s shoulder, consoling her.

Ash stood up abruptly, making a few women around him scream. He walked over to where Misty was sitting. Brock was shaking his head warningly, but Ash just ignored him.

“Would you like to dance, miss” he asked with poise, once he was in front of her.
Everyone in the room was quiet waiting for Misty to answer. Catherina looked on in shock.

“Sure, why not” she answered firmly, looking more confident.

This obviously made George mad, as he scowled at the bold couple. Ash took Misty’s hand and led her to the now empty dance floor.

“Music, please” bellowed George.
The orchestra started playing a soft waltz, as Ash and Misty waltzed to their beat.
“Wow you look beautiful tonight” Ash whispered very lightly, making sure his lips weren’t moving so obviously. He wasn’t looking directly at her, cause everyone in the room was looking at them intensively.
The crowd laughed and dog- whistled.

“Hold her tighter now, I heard that’s the way she loves it” said one man. Everyone burst out laughing.

“I’m so sorry” Misty muttered between her teeth, tears welling up in her eyes.

“No, Mist…don’t cry…don’t you dare cry for me. I’m not worth it”

“Yes you are”

“If you cry it makes me want to kiss you even more”

“O, god…I can’t believe all this is happening to you”

“I’ll be alright, Mist…don’t worry,” he whispered. They danced in circles around the floor, the crowd smirking at them.

“I can’t live with myself knowing that you are going threw this alone…I gotta do something”

“No…don’t you go do something stupid, Mist…I don’t want you to lose your job”

“I don’t care about this job…I don’t want to lose you”

“Well, don’t do anything…I’ll figure out some other way to fix this” he muttered, wondering how she would react if he told her about his “little” problem with Catherina.


“I love you so much…it hurts” she whispered a tear drop falling from her eye.

“I know Mist…I know”



Okay this wasn't the best chapter, but I hope you understand why I wrote the chapter like this.



Please review.