Hold Fast to Dreams By Cel3stial drag0n A/N: Just a short little fic. ****** Ash couldn't believe it. He lost. He had finally beaten the Elite Four and had faced off against Gary. And he lost. Unable to hold in the tears any longer, Ash ran away from the battlefield into the locker rooms. "Pika!" Pikachu shouted weakly. It was still tired from the battle and could barely stand up. There was no answer. Pikachu didn't follow, knowing that its master needed some time alone. It was still mad at itself for losing the battle. "Chu…" ****** Ash ran in and sat on one of the benches. He began to sob. 'I lost I lost I lost I lost I lost' He felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Misty through the tears in his eyes. "I know you're sad, Ash, but don't give up. I know you can do it," Misty encouraged. She hated seeing him this way. She hated seeing this cute, young boy, look depressed. Especially since she loved him. "You really mean it, Misty?" "I don't mean it. I know it." Misty said reassuringly. For the first time since the end of the battle, Ash smiled. "Thanks Misty." Ash looked into Misty's eyes. He could see that she wanted something from him. And he wanted something from her. Misty's love. 'Now's the perfect time to tell her,' he thought. "Misty, I know we haven't been a very good couple, since we're always fighting…" Ash paused to hold on to her hand as Misty just sat there, longing to hear the words she had wanted for so long. "…but ever since I met you, I had a feeling inside of me. And just now, after all these years of traveling together, I realized what that feeling is. I love you, Misty." Misty could barely speak. She was so happy. "I love you too…" Ash and Misty embraced each other in a kiss. Years of emotion and love were in that kiss, as a new bond between the two people was formed. They had pure love, the kind of love not many people had these days, since most people…all they had…was fated loved. But Ash and Misty had pure love. After the kiss ended, Ash and Misty walked outside, holding hands. Ash then saw Pikachu, sitting on the ground by its lonesome self. Ash, remembering how he had treated Pikachu after the battle, went up to him. "Pikachu…I'm sorry…I know you did your best…and that's all I wanted," Ash said. Pikachu looked up and smiled cutely. "Pi pikachu!" Pikachu said, forming the 'V for Victory' sing with it's two fingers. Ash laughed. Then he grabbed Misty hand and gave her a smile kiss on the cheek. "Thanks Misty. For always being there to push me on and help me get back up." Then he looked at Pikachu. "Let's go train…FOR NEXT YEARS TOURNAMENT!" Ash shouted, throwing his fist into the air. Then the trio left. Ash, Misty, and Pikachu. ****** One year later… Gary's Blastoise fell to the ground. (A/N: If you watched the new episodes in America, they reveal that Gary's started was Squirtle." Ash laughed and ran on to the field. Pikachu was tired, but it was still standing up. Ash picked him up. "Thanks, Pikachu! I couldn't have done it without you!" "Ash!" Ash looked toward the running redhead. They embraced in a hug. "I knew you could do it," Misty whispered into his ear. Together, with Misty and Pikachu by his side, along with his other friends and Pokemon, Ash started his new life as the Pokemon Master. ****** "No! How could I lose?" Gary shouted, throwing his hands into the air out of despair. "Humph…" all of his cheerleaders said simultaneously, walking out of the stadium. ****** Epilogue… Ash and Misty got married and had two wonderful kids. It turned out that Gary had cheated and given medicine to his Pokemon, which was not allowed since this kind of medicine could make a Pokemon's power double. Even though he cheated on both matches, Ash was able to defeat him in the second one. Because of this discovery, Gary was put into the Hall of Shame. Ash then realized that he could of won the first time. But he was happy he lost. That lost battle had given him the chance to be with the one he loved most. Misty. Now, he could be with her forever. Pikachu, you ask? Pikachu continued to train with Ash, and was never able to stop its craving for ketchup. In the end, it was good that Ash held on to his dreams. ~ Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow. ~ (Dreams, by Langston Hughes) All because of Misty and Pikachu, Ash fulfilled his long-awaited destiny. ****** Ok I'm up in the morning typing this fic, so this fic is probably not good. Sorry for leaving you guys just hanging there on my other stories, but I've had INTENSE writer's block. Review!