Disclaimer: - I DO NOT OWN Pokèmon or the song lyrics to ‘COMPLICATED’,
BY Carolyn Dawn Jhonson.
Author’s notes and shout outs: - This was a challenge set by Misty
Wildfire.
This chapter is also dedicated to all my reviewers; without you guys I would
have never continued; I would like to thank Classic Cowboy for the
inspirational plotline for the following chapters. This one’s for you Dust =)
Why is it so complicated?
By
Angelstars {aka} A*MON
~Complicated~
I’m so scared that the way I feel, Is written all over my face,
When you walk into the room, I wanna find a hiding place,
We used to laugh, we used to hug, The way that old friends do,
But now a smile and a touch of your hand, Just makes me come unglued,
It’s such a contradiction; do I lie or tell the truth? Is it fact or fiction
the way I feel for you?
It’s so complicated; I’m so frustrated,
I wanna hold you close; I wanna push you away, I wanna make you go, I wanna
make you stay,
Should I say it? Should I tell you how I feel?
Oh, I want you to know, But then again I don’t, It’s so complicated.
Just when I think I’m under control, I think I finally got a grip,
Another friend tells me that, My name is always on your lips,
They say I’m more than just a friend, They say I must be blind,
Well I admit I’ve seen you watch me, From the corner of your eye,
Oh, it’s so confusing I wish you’d just confess, But think of what I’d be
losing, If your answer wasn’t yes?
I hate it ‘cause I’ve waited so long for you, Should I say it? Should I tell
you how I feel?
Oh, I want you to know, But then again I don’t, It’s so complicated. ~ Carolyn
Dawn Jhonson
***
Ash –16 – Misty – 17 – Brock – 19
***
Chapter Two: So near, yet so far away (Ash’s doubt)
Meanwhile an open window swung back and fore in an empty room, where once a
redheaded beauty had shed tears and reminisced on memories past of a time when
her life was good, and had meaning.
…
To Be Continued…
----
Tick…tick..tick..tick…
Ash pulled his head up to look at the clock above the Pokémedi centre; it was
now nearing an hour past 10, and still no sign of Misty. Ash sighed and lowered
his eyes from the clock to face Brock, who was sitting in front of him.
”Brock?” he asked,
”Hmm?” Brock replied from behind his Pokèmon mag.
Ash sighed and continued, “Misty’s getting more and more like a girl everyday.
She’s taken over an hour to get ready.”
Brock lifted his head and to look at Ash before continuing. “Ash? Did you just
say what I thought you just said? If I’m not mistaken, Ash, Misty is a girl.
When was she not?”
Ash heard what Brock had just asked, but didn’t quite click at what it’s
meaning was.
”Ash, man... No wonder you’re confused!” Brock chuckled. “I mean there’s your
problem right there. You got this mental void blocking any rational thinking.
Misty has always been a girl…what on earth did you think of her before hand?”
Ash narrowed his eyes and spat out a grunt as a reply, but Brock had a point.
Ash never really thought of Misty as a girl much before, just a friend, his
best friend who happened to be a tomboy all through out her child hood and
early teenage years. Actually, Ash had been thinking differently about his
redheaded companion for a while now, certain little things he noticed like the
way she smiled when she spoke, or the way she smelt, how her eyes twinkled with
life even the way she ate. It all seemed very appealing now, he blushed
slightly realising he had been daydreaming and no doubt had a dreamy smile on
his lips.
Brock shock his head at Ash and grinned while returning to read his Pokémag…
Tick…tick..tick..tick
Sigh, another half an hour and still no Misty. Ash was now beginning to worry
more than complain about her lateness.
”Ok, I’m going to go check on her.” Ash declared and stood from his comfy seat.
”k” Brock simply nodded and continued to read.
----
He felt sick, and his head was spinning. Before he knew
it, his tears were stinging his eyes…his legs guided him toward the fallen
figure. It was pitch dark, but he knew, he knew it were she…
---
Ash reached Misty’s door and knocked lightly, after the third knock and still
no reply he reached for the handle and turned it. The door opened and he called
out Misty’s name.
The window was wide open and the curtains were ridding along with the gentle
breeze from the soft wind, but no sign of Misty. He entered the room and closed
the open window. Turning around to have a better look at the room, he noticed
none of Misty’s belongings were around, the bed was neatly made, but that
wasn’t what he was fixated on. Near the bed stand was one single photo of two
young trainers, both smiling. One, a young boy, with jet-black hair, the other,
a girl, with flaming red hair. He walked over to the nightstand and picked up
the photo, he smiled at the memory… it was taken 6 years ago; both trainers
were dancing together at the summer end festival in Maidens Peak back in Kanto.
Misty was breath taking, she wore a pink kimono and her hair was let loose, she
looked almost perfect. He continued on staring at the photo in his hands, but
something told him to take a look at the back of it, some kind of nagging in
his mind and gut that there was something he had to see. He turned the photo
and found what he needed to know.
’We used to laugh. We used to hug, the way that old friends do, but I miss the
way we were. But, I wish we had more.’
Ash noticed some of the ink used to write the message was blotted, and slightly
stained Misty must have been crying when she wrote this, but still his
confusion clouded his judgment.
----
His shortness of breath kept him from seeing straight, his
vision became blurry and his legs felt heavy…suddenly his legs gave way and he
found himself on his knees, sobbing into his hands…
----
”Brock!! Pikachu!! She’s gone…Misty’s gone!”
”What?” Brock jumped from behind his Mag.
Pikachu could tell Ash was panicking at this point; the only thing was to
convince him to find her.
…
Ash sighed and continued to trek through the forest, Pikachu and Brock followed
closely behind…the thought of losing Misty was the only thing that kept Ash so
determined to continue through the dense forest of trees and thorns.
Thoughts and Memories flashed before his strong-minded state of conscience, but
deep down his confusion and doubt still clouded all judgment and knowledge that
Misty meant something…maybe a little more than a friend.
===Flashback===
His first Pokèmon lay in the next room, how could this be happening to him, on
his first day of all days! At least he hoped nothing else could go wrong now…
”There you are!!” an angry female voice echoed through the Pokèmon centre.
Ok, maybe it just got worse. “Wha..what happened to your bike?” Ash stuttered
dreading what the psycho redhead was going to do to him.
”You, you happened to my bike! You little loser!!!” she snapped back.
…
”I will follow you until you pay me back for my broken bike, Ash Ketchum!”
…
There was no pain, he felt nothing…but didn’t the chandelier fall on top of us?
he asked himself…with that he noticed he was floating above his body… “wha! I’m
down there!!!”
It felt different and free, but still something was keeping him closer to the
earth than in the heavens above, maybe his quest was meant to carry on, maybe
this wasn’t his time, maybe this was another chance to do what he was meant to
do…still it was fun, but she was actually worried, her eyes were red and
swollen and she was…she was calling for him to come back, no begging him to
come back. It was an experience, but he knew he was needed…he had to choose
life.
”Hey Misty” Ash greeted as he slowly began to open his eyes,
”Your…you’re alive?” Misty asked holding back her tears.
Ash smiled, and set himself back up. “Sorry to worry you, guys”
She was happy, but her tears… were they for me?
…
She doesn’t understand, she never could…why must she always doubt me.
”Ash?”
”Leave me alone” Ash sulked and turned his back on her.
”Oh Ash, don’t be such a baby, you can’t stay in here and sulk all day, every
day end in and out can you?” Misty sighed.
”…”
”Fine be that way! You big baby…you need to grow up a little before you can
actually get over yourself, Ash! So you lost, big deal, try again next year”
Ash jumped up from the bed and stood, ”What! You don’t understand anything do
you, Misty?! Leave me alone; I don’t want to argue with you anymore, I really
wish I never met you! Because all you ever do is put me down, you never believe
in me and my skills…” Ash snorted back in her face. “I said leave me alone, and
I’m not a baby!”
”Skill? What skill, Ash? Ha! Don’t make me laugh; you have no skill what so
ever! Its all down to luck, and dumb luck at that” she resorted back in a
sarcastic tone of voice.
It hurt, not only my pride, but it hurt…every insult, every little doubt in me,
it hurt me…I pushed myself to try and be the best, not only for me and my
Pokèmon, & my family, but for her…I did it to…to impress her, to show her,
I’m as good as her, that I can beat the best…that I can be the best…why does
she always have to doubt me?
…
I have to prove I can do this; I have to get this badge…
Doesn’t look all that bad…I can do this, I think.
”I have to climb that?!” Ash marvelled at the colossal mountain before him.
”Yep” Tracey replied, “You can’t use any Pokèmon either, Ash. This is a test of
skill to wean out the losers and weak.”
”Pika Pika!!”
”You’re right, Pikachu. I can do this.”
Oh… is this a good time to admit I’m afraid of heights?
”Be careful, Danny” Misty cried in a worried tone from the cable car, as it
made its way up past Ash and Danny.
What’s with her, she should be worrying about me, not him…she was being a brat
before also, making me out to be a lazy trainer, praising Danny for being such
the ideal Pokèmon trainer…I’ll show her…
once I stop looking down that is…
”I did it!”
”You’re here…” Misty cried with delight. Running toward both Ash and Danny.
Ha! I knew she worried about me…huh?!
”Oh I was so worried about you, Danny. Want to share my blanket?” Misty fussed.
”What…what about me?” Ash sulked from the ground where Misty only moments
before had rushed passed him causing him to lose his balance.
Thanks Mist…
…
Who is this guy?! He’s a creep, look at him…hanging all over her like that,
makes me wanna throw up! And look at her smiling and dancing with him, being
all girly and nice…
”I’ve come to earn the spike shell badge” Ash scoffed in annoyance.
”Are you listening to me?”
”Don’t you know it’s rude to interrupt people when their talking?” the slick
spoken guy looked up and answered.
”Rude? You’re the one being rude!” Ash argued back.
”Not Rude, Rudy” he replied, whipping back his hair.
What’s with this guy, and what is he doing with his hair???? Scary…wa! is that
dandruff?
…
Grrr…look at him, he’s doing this on purpose, ohhh I hate this guy…why does he
have to be the gym leader…and Misty should be cheering for me not looking at
him dreamy eyed and…and oh forget this…I’ll show him!
…
”Well, Ash, you passed my test” Rudy sneered toward Ash
”Told you I could do it”
”Yes, well…tomorrow we’ll have the real thing, choose your Pokèmon wisely, Ash,
as will I” Rudy replied, then turned to gather Misty’s hand in his, “Misty?
Would you do me the honour and be my guest for dinner on this fine evening?”
Misty blushed slightly and agreed.
I hate this guy…
…
”I dedicate this special attack and match to the girl who rescued my sister and
stole my heart” Rudy announced with a smile.
”That’s real nice, but this match is far from over” Ash stated.
I definitely hate this guy…
I knew I could win, but it just didn’t feel the same, she was routing for
someone else, she was on his side…I was letting him win, Squirtle had no chance
against an electrical attack…It’s over…I lost…
”Ash are you just going to stand there and let him beat ya!?!”
”Mist..Misty?”
She is on my side…maybe she does believe in me?
…
This is it, now or never…ask her, do it now…you need to know…
”Um, Mist?” Ash nervously raised,
”Hmm?” she replied, turning to face him.
”You know when we were on Trovita? Tracey, kind of let it slip that, Rudy asked
you to stay, is that true?” Ash asked lowering his head to hide his blush.
Misty swallowed back her butterflies and replied, “Yes, Ash.”
Blush or no blush he lifted his head so that his eyes met hers. “Why didn’t you
stay?” he asked.
Misty lowered her eyes from his gaze and began, “well I thought about it, and I
was considering staying, but I thought about all that we’ve been through… and
as soon as I saw you getting your ass kicked by him, I knew you needed me. Lets
face it, Ash, you seriously need help.”
”What? I don’t need your help if that’s what you’re saying!” Ash spat back.
”Ash Ketchum, you owe me a bike, or have you forgotten that little detail?” she
raised her voice back in equal annoyance.
”When are you going to get over that dumb bike, Misty!”
”It’s not a dumb bike! Ash Ketchum, I swear I am going to make your life a
misery until you pay me back for that broken bike!”
I know…I know…and you’re not getting it back…ever.
…
I never asked to do this, I can’t do this…I’m just a kid, what do I know about
saving the world?
”Chosen one?”
It happened so fast, and the only thing I remember was getting the last sphere,
and then it was dark, but I could hear…I just couldn’t see or move. It was so
cold, but I could feel something warm, holding me…I could hear voices, no…a
voice…a girls voice…Misty. She was calling me…my head hurt, I couldn’t
remember…
”Ash, Ash… wake up.”
”Come on, Ash. Wake up, you have to wake up…we need you…I need you…”
That’s right, the sphere, I’m the chosen one. I have to do this, she said I
could, she believed in me, she told me I could do it, if I really tried. I have
to do this; people and Pokèmon depend on me to do it…she depends on me.
Ash jolted up and suddenly remembered the sphere, gathering himself up; he got
up with both Misty and Tracey’s help.
”I need to do this on my own, Mist” Ash told her, but he could see the worry in
her eyes, “I’ll be alright, I always am.” She smiled and let him continue up
the stairs to the temple at the top of the steps.
Maybe she has a meaning in my life…but it’s still not enough…
”You better pay me back for my broken bike, ASH KETCHUM!”
”You’re nothing but a big baby”
”It’s nice to dream with your eyes open, huh, Ash?”
”Yeah right! You can’t find yourself out of a haystack, let alone leading the
way out of here!”
”Ash, you can’t win, give it up”
”Ha! What skill?!”
”Ash, you brainless idiot!”
”You’re so dense!”
”Grow up, Ash!”
”Get a life, Ash! All you think about is Pokèmon, and yourself!”
===End Flashback===
Brock and Pikachu were lagging further and further behind Ash, until finally
Brock couldn’t keep up anymore, Ash was going to fast and there was no sign of
him going to take a break any time soon.
”Ash?” Brock called out
”Pika Pi?”
Finally catching up with Ash, Brock grabbed a hold of his shoulders
pulling him to a halt ”ASH!”
”Huh?” he jumped slightly, being knocked out of his drive.
Brock sighed and continued, “Ash, slow down. Listen, why don’t I go back to
Pokèmon centre and wait there just in case she comes back there?”
Ash stood in silence and agreed, his thoughts continued to play with his
emotions and fears of rejection.
---
It ached and hurt so much…the pain in his chest from the
amount of crying and lack of breath dug into his heart…this was all his fault,
he never wanted this to happen, it wasn’t supposed to be like this…she didn’t
deserve any of this.
---
Brock looked down at Pikachu and nodded slightly, giving Pikachu a worried
glance when the yellow rodent looked back up at him. Pikachu nodded back and
scrambled up Ash and found a resting place on his head. Brock smiled, with
little reassurance, “I’m sure she just needed some time to think and be alone.”
”Maybe, but I’m still going to find her. I need to tell her something.” Ash
replied, his voice sounding distant and quiet, but to the point.
…
Later that night Ash lay in the shelter of the forest, staring into the log
fire. His thoughts were still wondering, most made him smile…
===Flashback===
He watched her set her sleeping bag on the ground and slowly crawl under its
warmth, she yawned slightly before closing her sleepy eyes. Ash loved it when
she slept next to him; it was the only time he could gaze at her without her
realising it. Her hair was let down and her mouth laid slightly ajar as her
breathing became even and soft; she was asleep. Ash loved watching her sleep,
her face looked so peaceful when she dreamt.
…
Misty stood on the opposite end of the battlefield. Grinning she began, “I’m
gonna beat ya this time, Ash Ketchum!”
Ash and his lopsided grin answered back confidently; “We’ll see about that,
Misty”
The battle was well on its way, Misty winning the first round. Ash, catching up
on the second round. It was a tie for a while, but Ash was victories… Misty was
at first unhappy, but accepted his win.
She finished thanking her fallen Starmie and returned it to its Pokéball and
walked over to congratulate Ash. “That was a good match Ash, I still say I
would have won if Togepi would have been able to battle.”
”Yeah right, none of my Pokèmon would have battled it!” Ash resorted.
”Exactly” Misty stated with a huge smile.
…
Ash stood gapping at the scene playing out in front of him he couldn’t believe
it…a girl had come out from nowhere and tripped, Brock had managed to catch her
before she could hurt herself, and now she was…she was talking about…
”Wow, imagine Brock married!” Ash blurted out
Misty sighed happily, “You and I will be married someday, too.”
“Mmmmhmmm” Ash agreed and continued to look on in total shock.
Hold on did she just say…“HUH??????” he suddenly realised what he had just
agreed on, his face showing fear and total embarrassment.
Misty just face faulted and giggled at Ash’s stupidity.
===End Flashback===
Ash couldn’t help a small chuckle thinking about that particular memory.
Still…these had nothing to do what he was feeling right now, how would dwelling
in the past help him figure out the now…he was so confused.
Pikachu looked up at Ash with worry, this was the big one. It was either going
to end very good, or worse… very bad.
…
The next morning Ash and Pikachu were trekking once more through the thickness
of the forest. Pikachu sat upon Ash’s head, and Ash concentrated on finding
Misty by the end of the day, he was quiet and hardly spoke to Pikachu.
Pikachu respected Ash’s willpower; he sensed a long time ago that Misty was
someone in Ash’s life who was considered special and very important.
The whole of the day was spent either hacking their way through the thorns and
bushes and only stopping to take small breaks. Pikachu still had no luck
picking up Misty’s sent, and Noctowl couldn’t find her from above. This didn’t
faze Ash in the slightest, if any it only made him more determined to find her
before the day was out.
”Pikachu, she just couldn’t have disappeared.”
”Pika” the little yellow rodent agreed.
Sighing Ash carried on following what little trail led through the dense woods
of Goldenrod’s miles of forest.
…
It wasn’t until later that night; Ash was nearing sleep when he thought he
heard something. He jolted up from the ground, “Pikachu?” he whispered,
”Pikachu, did you hear that?” he asked again, Pikachu’s ears twitched when they
heard the noise again, this time louder and scampered closer to Ash.
Ash held tightly onto Pikachu and stood to his feet. It was like he was being
pulled slowly toward the noise, Ash, finally giving in let his senses guide him
nearer the source of the noise…
…
It was dark and Ash was having a hard time seeing, but he could hear perfectly.
Pikachu, whom had better night vision than Ash, noticed something or someone at
the far end of what looked like a rocky ditch.
”Pika ch pi”
Ash heard Pikachu’s squeak and looked up trying to focus on what Pikachu was
looking at, his heart sank when he recognized the name his best Pokèmon friend
had just spoken.
Misty…
Something was wrong…even the darkness that limited his vision couldn’t hide the
feeling that something wasn’t right…
He shuck his head of any negative thoughts and ran as fast as he could, but
halted only a few feet away from what he thought to be Misty.
Pikachu’s eyes began to water as fresh tears rolled down his cheeks, “Pika chu
pi” he kept repeating between sobs of sorrow…
…
to be continued…
***
Author’s Note: Hey!! I finally did the second chapter =) I hope you all
enjoyed and want more cause the third chapter will be a good one ^_~
oh by the way, did anyone notice the brain teasers for the next chapter ^^
So anybody have any idea what’s happened to Misty while we’ve been hearing out
Ash’s side of the story?? Any clues on what’s gonna happen next ^^
Thank You; Classic Cowboy for helping me out =)
Misty Wildfire for setting me this challenge
EVERYONE who reviewed and helped me get my lazy boot in gear!!!!
Angie =)
Finished: 00:52am 19th April 2002