Christmas Vows
by Aideen Cato

“Wake up!!! Christmas shopping commences!!!” Misty yelled into Ash and Brock's ears. Ash sat up from his sleeping bed.
“Why?” Ash whined. He hated getting up at the crack of dawn.
“Aw, my ears will never be the same.” Brock cried aloud as his ears pounded.
“C’mon!” Misty pulled on their wrists trying unsuccessfully to get them up. She leaned back and tried to use her weight but to no avail, the grown boys did not move.
“Just a few more hours?” Ash begged while falling back.
“No way!” Misty pulled him up. “We gotta beat the shoppers!”
“But we already camped outside the stupid store.” Brock told her. "Even I think that's enough."
“I know! But we still have to be ready to walk in! They are stocked fresh and have everything from clothes, shoes, and toys, to Pokemon merchandise, Pokemon, and even a section for the Pokemon to shop in themselves!” Misty told them.
“We know that. You’ve only told us a thousand times since last night.” Ash laughed waking up a little.
“We must shop till we drop!!! We have to shop and shop all day till we drop!” Misty told them. “This is the time to get anything and everything all in one day of shopping!”
“If you're rich, that is.  I can't believe you're so serious about this.” Ash told her and fell back. “But I’m serious about sleeping. Goodnight.”
“Not today, Ketchum!” Misty pulled him up again. Brock got up when he saw how serious Misty was and went outside. “Finally someone who understands the meaning of shopping!” Misty laughed.
"My poor checkbook can't handle this kind of pressure.” Ash whined as he got up to his feet.  "I don't think I'll survive too long either."

***SHOPPING***

“Well, That’s it.” Ash mumbled as he lifted the special gift from its pedestal in the window. “It’s exactly what I wanted to get her.” The store clerk walked by and noticed the young boys eye for the wonderful object.
“Will you be purchasing this, Sir?” The clerk asked.
“Purchase? You bet I’ll buy this work of art!” Ash laughed as he turned to the man. “How much is it?”
“Look at the tag...” Ash did as he said and his face lit up. The clerk smiled. “Agreeable?”
“Sure.” Ash nodded and pulled out his charge card. “Ring it up and wrap it up! And I‘d like to add an inscription.”

***

“Oh wow!” Misty looked in a window. “Ash would just love one of those.” She glanced at the price. “I almost can’t afford that! But if I borrowed money from Ash he’d suspect something. It’ll take all the rest of my money but I’ll buy it for him. He did give me a home. I might as well get this for him.” Misty counted her money. “Just enough...” Misty walked into the store and bought the gift with every penny she had left.

***THE WALK BACK HOME***

“Man, I shopped my butt off! Searched everywhere for the perfect gifts. Blech...” Misty sighed exhaustedly.
“No it’s still there, Misty!” Ash laughed as he pretended to examine her backside.
“Oh shut up!” Misty yelled and turned around to face him, walking backwards. “You know what I meant!”
“Can’t I just joke around? I haven’t had a chance to even really speak to you guys yet today.”
“Don’t push it...” Misty poked Ash’s chest. “And no looking for your presents this year! Got it?”
“Fine by me! Besides, you searched first last year.” Ash laughed at her.
“I did nothing of the sort!”
“Don’t lie, Mist! I saw you. No need for petty lies and excuses.  Am I right, Brock?”
"That's right!  It's in the past. Too late for excuses and lies anyway!"
“So what if I did! I didn’t even find anything anyway.  I found out by Christmas that it wasn't even worth the wait anyway.”
“C'mon, you liked it.  It was all Brock and I could afford at the time.”   Ash replied.
"I did like it.  It was still very thoughtful.  Thanks again, by the way."
"Don't mention it."  Ash smiled.
"That won't be the case this year, of course."  Brock grinned mischievously.  "It'd cost a pretty penny to buy what I wanted to get you guys for Christmas.  So, I've been saving up for Christmas since I started my job.  I hope you've both been doing the same."
"Sure!  It's what I live for!"  Ash laughed.
"Birthdays and the holidays are what I do best!"  Misty gave the victory sign.
"That's great!  I'm glad you two are starting to plan ahead like real adults.   I'm very proud of you both!"
“Since we're going to be adults... no more present hunting!  Got it, Ash?” Misty glared at her friend.
“Aww... where's the fun in that, Mist?”
“Well, just don't hunt!  I bought you something pretty special.  It'd be a shame for you to find it.” Misty looked to Brock. “Don't worry, I didn’t leave you out, Brock-o!”
“I didn’t think you did.” Brock smiled and walked up to his friends. “We had better try and get to Ash’s house by tonight.”
“Yea...” Ash sighed and walked on ahead. Misty and Brock followed him.

Ash’s mind drifted back into the old times. Misty, Brock and him were much younger and even less experienced in Pokemon training. Misty had seemed to get farther away from him and Brock every day. Once she had even quit talking. Something was wrong with Misty. Ash had to figure it out. Almost every year around Christmas Misty would grow silent. Ash would see that again from her once more in a few short days. Ash always wanted to ask Misty what was wrong. But he din’t have the heart to bother her. Soon even Ash would take her vow of silence along with her just to make Misty feel like she wasn't alone in whatever went on in her mind.

“Ash?” Misty asked him. Ash looked behind him.
“Yea?”
“Are you okay? You’vet been quiet for a while.”
“I’m just thinking...” Ash told her.
“About what?”
“When we were younger. All the traveling we did.” Ash sighed again and looked up into the stars. “I remember getting excited to see the big sign that read 'Pallet Town' coming into view on this exact road after a long journey.”
“Yea. You’d always hug your mother as soon as you saw her in her garden.” Misty laughed. “It must be great to have someone waiting for you to get back home.”
“Don’t you?” Ash asked.
“That's not important. What really matters to me is that my friends are happy.” Misty replied forcing a smile that was very sincere. But her face fell into silence as she inverted to her inner thoughts. Ash feared he had pushed her back into that strange mood she always had right around Christmas.

***CHRISTMAS MORNING***

“Misty, wake up...” Ash whispered as he shook her quietly. Misty rolled over in her eerie silence and looked up at him. “It’s really late. Let’s go.” Ash helped her up out of bed and led her down into the den room. There sat the Ketchum family’s Christmas tree for the year and under it sat a few presents. Ash grabbed one from under the tree and walked back over to Misty. “This may not seem much in size... but it’s what I wanted you to have.” Ash handed the small gift to Misty. Misty looked at him questioningly. “I wanted to give this to you when we were alone. It’s pretty special.” Misty slowly opened the box. Inside lay a gold necklace attached to a small locket. Misty lifted it out and opened the locket. There was a picture of her and Ash sitting together on one side. They were smiling brightly as they sheepishly held up a victory sign. On the other side was an inscription.

‘This is just a little something for the one I care about most. I hope our journey never ends. Your friend, Ash.’

“Oh, Ash... thanks.  Thank you.” Misty looked up at him. He smiled at her.
“No, thank you.” Ash told her. Misty hugged him happily.
“This is the best Christmas present in the whole world.” Misty replied on the brink of tears. “I’m so glad it came from you, Ash.”
“I’m glad I gave it to you!”
“...” Misty looked at him and down at the floor. “Sorry I haven’t been speaking to anyone lately. It’s just that there’s something going through my mind...”
“I knew something was wrong! Every year before Christmas you’d be so silent.   What is it?”
“It’s just that I take a vow of silence in honor of my parents.” Misty replied reluctantly.
“...?”
“They died a few days before Christmas years ago. I wasn’t too young to understand they were dead so I remember the day when the children’s home came and took my sisters and me from our home.”
“You’vet been in a home before?” Ash asked sadly.
“Yea. It’s horrible there! I lived in the home, with my sisters, until they were old enough to take care of me.” Misty paused and glanced at Ash’s sad expression. “Well, maybe it really wan’t that bad...” Misty changed quickly.
“I don’t believe that.” Ash told her. “But all that has passed. You’re all right now.  I know you are.”
“Yes.” Misty answered. “But nothing will ever be the same again...”
“Things change, Mist, and that’s just what happens! There’s nothing you can really do about it.”
“I know. I just wish there was something I could have done.”
“You are doing what you can. You remember them.  That's all a parent really wants.  And if you can't even manage to do that much.  All they truly want is for you to be happy.”"
“But I wish they weren’t gone.”
“You have my mom, Brock, and me. You’ll never lose us.” Ash replied.
“Really?” Misty asked.
“You have my word.” Ash smiled at her again. “I promise. No matter what happens, even if you decide to leave here, you’ll always have a home and family in Pallet.”
“Gosh, Ash. That’s so sweet.” Misty smiled softly.
“My mom would say the same to you, Misty. She loves you just like you were her own daughter.”
“I always thought she kind of didn’t like me.”
“What? She’s always liked you! I don’t know what she’d do if something happened to you.” Ash looked at her seriously. “I don’t know what Brock and I’d do without you.  Me alone, even.”
“I thought I’d never hear someone say that to me.” Misty said quietly.
“And if anything ever happens to you, God forbid it, I’ll be right there to help you out.”
“You really do mean that... don’t you?” Misty asked.
“I wouldn’t ever say it if I didn’t mean it, Misty. I know we haven’t really gotten along well but I really hope things could be better between us.”
“Thing’s will get better. Thank you, Ash.” Misty hugged him. “I’ll keep this for as long as I am humanly possible.” Misty looked at her locket and ran her fingers down it’s perfect, golden, form.  A moment of silence passed.  A silence that was sincere and comfortable, shared between the two friends.   Then it was settled.  A new beginning had set it's course.
“Want to go back to bed or do you want to wake up everyone else.” Ash asked.
“You know...” Misty began. “I think I’ll watch sunrise. I haven’t done that since my mother died.” Misty smiled halfheartedly. “My mother always said that watching the Christmas sunrise was like having a fresh start. If I could have that second chance I’d tell my mother I love her.” Misty looked down and tears welled up in her eyes.
“It hurts that much, huh?” Ash asked sympathetically. “To lose your mother?”
“Not just a mother... a father too.  Life comes to a screeching halt and then starts over.  Just like how my mother explained Christmas morning.  It's as if she was preparing me for something like this.   Like it was planned or it was set in stone.  Unable to change or to be wiped away.”  Misty explained as tears ran down her face.  Her smile crookedly forming at the edges of her lips as she reminded herself of her mother's wise words. "What about your father, Ash?  What happened to him?"
“I never knew him.  I was born when he was long gone.  I'm pretty sure he doesn't know I exist.”
"My parent's left my sisters and me behind. I hope they know I loved them very much.”
“I’m sure they do.” Ash replied. “I guess if I ever had a chance to talk to my father, if ever, I’d say I loved him even though he left my mother with me.”
"Ash...” Misty choked out as she looked back up at him. “I wonder where I’ll end up. Do you think I’ll end up like that?  Alone or dead?   Leaving the people I love behind?”
“Not if you try your hardest to remain in our hearts.” Ash smiled at her. “As long as you love that’ll never happen to you.”
“I worry allot how my sisters, Brock and you will turn out.”
“Me? Am I going somewhere I don't know about?” Ash asked with a chuckle.
“I just wonder. People do turn out the way you’d never expect.”
“That’s true.” Ash sighed aloud as he looked around the room.
"Oh!  I almost forgot your gift!” Misty exclaimed. Ash looked back at her.
“You didn’t have to-”
“I wanted to. Besides, I don’t have to spend money on this first one.”
“It was free? But I thought you went shopping.”
“I wouldn’t call it free. This is just for you. It isn’t store bought, it's unwrapped, and can only be earned. I am the only one who can give this to you. That’s how it is.”
“That's a strange gift. What is it?”
“Well...” Misty looked around. “I did buy you something. But I also wanted you to have this...” Misty kissed his cheek.
“Whoa...” Ash laughed. “I didn’t know you liked the locket that much.”
“I wouldn’t like it if anyone else had given it to me.  It wasn't just for the locket, anyway.”
"Then..." Ash looked up for mistletoe and found nothing. "Hey!" He laughed and looked back at her.
“And I thought you might need this.” Misty grabbed a present from under the tree and handed it to Ash.
“This? But it feels like clothing.”
“Open it. I know you’ll like it.” Ash opened the package and lifted a brand new jacket from it’s wrappings.
“Whoa! You bought this? For me?” Ash asked as he looked at her. “This is an official Pokemon Master League jacket! But how’d you know I was looking at this?”
“I thought you’d want that. I had no idea you were looking for it.”
“I was going to buy it some other time after Christmas, but it looks like you’ve beaten me to it.” Ash looked at the jacket and then back at Misty. “It must have cost a lot...”
“Don’t worry about it...” Misty said. “I am going to watch the sunrise.” She walked over to the door in the corner, that led to the balcony. "Don't wait up." Misty exited outside and stood looking out toward the Pallet Sea.
“Mother...” Misty whispered into the cold air. “I wish I had just one more time.” A gust of air blew softly passed Misty. Misty smiled and looked up as the sun peeked over the Pallet Mountains. “Merry Christmas. I hope you know I still love you, both.” Misty began to hum a quiet song to herself as she watched the sun continue to rise slowly. Ash came outside and leaned on the railing next to Misty.
“Your mother was right.” Ash began. Misty looked at him. “It does seem like you're getting a fresh new start.” Misty smiled and looked back at the sun.

*** THE END***