Me, Professor Ketchum

****

Location and Setting: The dark of the night had passed and the light of day had taken place. The time was about 8:30 in the morning and, yet, no one, but Deliah had waken up. When she opened the door to where the party was, she had seen the mess and bodies lying everywhere. She had decided not to wake them up and pry in what happened last night. She had not notice where her son slept.

The sun rose and it was now 9 in the morning. Brock was the first to stir, the sun passing through the blinds of the window and firing a barrage of rays to Brock’s face. He rubbed the sand in his eyes and yawned. Afterwards, she had begun to stretch. The click of Brock’s joints had woken Tracey up.

Tracey was on the same level as Ash was. Still half asleep, he didn’t think much of what he saw. It might have been his imagination. So, he went back to sleep.

Brock did not do the same. He went out the door and turned to his left. A minute or so later, he came back to get clean pairs of pants, underwear and a shirt. He had to bend get his clothes from his backpack that lay close to where Ash and someone else’s legs had stuck out. He also paid no attention to it thinking it was just Ash and one of the girls. Brock counted the girls as he looked around. There were five girls last night. Lily was on the snorlax doll, Daisy was on top of another bunk, the same Violet. Brock smiled, he had seen her face first when he had woken. Brock looked up and saw May with her brother. “Four,” Brock counted. And,... five.

“What?” exclaimed Brock shocked to see the two one on top of each other.

Brock had to tell someone. He knew he couldn’t wake up Misty’s sisters or even May. He had to get another guy’s opinion on this.

“Tracey,” Brock said trying to whisper and project as loud as he could.

Tracey stirred rubbing his eyes. “What?” Tracey asked agitated.

“Look in front of you.”

Tracey’s vision was still blurry and couldn’t really see. He fixed his eyes again and the blur started to clear. “Oh, no!”

“Yeah, my same sentiments.”

“How did this happen?”

“I don’t know, I just found them this way when I woke up.”

“Well, what next?”

“I don’t know, that’s why I woke you up. You’re the smart one. You come up with something.”

“I’m a pokemon watcher, Brock. I don’t study humans.”

“Well, you have at least a better outlook on things than I do.”

“Okay,... I say... we wake up... Max.”

“Why do we wake up Max?”

“I don’t know. Are you willing to wake up May or Misty’s sisters?”

“Yeah, I guess your right.”

Tracey got out of the bunk and headed towards Max. May had her arms around him so they had to be careful not to wake her up in the process.

“Max... Max,” both Brock and Tracey called.

Max had stirred, but not very much.

Brock climbed up tiptoeing on a chair next to the bunk bed trying carefully not to wake Violet who was on the bottom of the bunk.

“Just try poking him,” suggested Tracey.

Brock did what he was told and poked Max in the eye with his index finger.

“What is...” Max was irritated by Brock’s constant poking of his eye so he had brushed Brocks hand away and started to yell, but Brock was quick to cover his mouth.

“Shut up, Max. We need your help.”

Max moved May’s arm away and laid up with Brock’s mouth still covering.

“Okay, I’m going to let go, but it’s imperative that you don’t make a sound.”

Max nodded and Brock took his hand off.

“What’s going on?” Max whispered.

“Come down, but don’t wake May up. We have a serious problem.”

Max came down feeling upset Brock had waken him up. He gets cranky when he gets wakened after a long night.

“There,” Tracey pointed.

“Oh, so?” Max said without enthusiasm.

“Oh?, that’s all you have to say?” Brock said surprised.

“Yeah, what’s the big deal. Their just sleeping. Why, did they do something?”

“We don’t know if they did anything, but we don’t want to tell the girls Ash might have done something,” Tracey explained.

“Don’t worry, I believe in Ash. I know he didn’t do anything,” Max pointed.

“Your hero worship is really astonishing, Max,” commented Brock.

“It’s not hero worship. Ash told me it would be wrong if he did. I still believe him.”

“Okay, Max, why don’t you wake up Daisy, Lily, Violet or May. Let’s see what you have to say,” Brock dared Max knowing he wouldn’t know what to do.

“Come on, guys. We’re Ash’s friends. We should just wake him up,” suggested Tracey.

“Okay, I’ll get the stick,” Brock said looking for something long.

“What’s the stick for?” ask Tracey.

“Let’s poke him.”

They were careful in taking action. The goal was to wake Ash up and leave everyone else to their peaceful slumber. It was imperative not to wake up Misty. It would not only be tense a moment, but one that had needed questions answered.

Brock pointed the stick close to Ash’s eye, but Max tapped Brock just before and helped him pointed it down towards Ash’s open right shoulder where Misty was not covering.

“He’s moving,” whispered Max as he helped Brock maneuver.

Ash had unconsciously removed his arm wedged between himself and Misty. They were taken aback as he did so fearing Misty would also wake up.

“That’s it, lets just chug the stick at him harder,” suggested Brock.

Max nodded and prepared to do so.

“Let’s do it in the count of three.”

“1... 2...”

Right before their plan was set in motion, the door leading to the hallway suddenly opened and a unexpected Deliah barged in as the boys were working their strategy.

The room was silent as the three guys scattered to their sides by instinct.

“Oh, I’m sorry, what are you three doing?” Deliah asked curious to see the three holding a stick to what looked like someone.

Deliah came in closer to see what they were pointing the stick at. She bent over to see who was at the bottom of the bunk bed. She was surprised to see the two. Silence was the tone of the room. Silent and awkward. None had anything to say and couldn’t think of anything to say.

Max had fiddled with his hands noticing his palms were profusely perspired. Who would make the next move was unknown among the four overwhelmed individuals.

Lily had opened her eyes just a bit, but enough to see the awkward people standing in front of her blocking her view of the bunk. Lily got up slowly yawning and stretching. It was one of her daily routines. She wouldn’t start the day without doing so.

“So, like, what’s everyone just standing around for. I’m hungry, what do we have to eat today.” Lily then walked over to Daisy and gave her a nudge.

The guys and Deliah looked at Lily who still wasn’t aware. Lily gave them a smile that wasn’t returned.

“Why’s everyone acting like stiffs. Daisy, wake up; I have to get the lesson plan and you’re the only one who knows where it is.” Lily shook her sister violently.

“Stop it, Lily, I’m awake,” Daisy informed.

Daisy, too, had notice Mrs. Ketchum in the room and remembered she wasn’t their last night.

“Oh, hi, Mrs. Ketchum sorry about last night. I hope we weren’t too loud.”

Max had finally snapped out of it nudging Brock on his elbow to move.

Brock, who knew the consequences if Daisy had found out, moved to block view of Ash and Misty. But, it was too late.

“Like, what’s going on?” Daisy questioned seeing the two with their legs just dangling off the edge of the bunk bed. “What are they like that?

“To tell the truth,” Brock finally snapping out of his haze, “we just found them like this.”

“Lily, wake up Violet,” ordered Daisy,” we have to talk to our little sister.

Lily did as she was told and shook violet violently til she woke up. Usually if Daisy had ordered Lily to do something she would have a comment about her doing so, but this time Daisy was serious and didn’t want to get Daisy riled.

Daisy walked up to Ash and Misty, both of them still asleep. Everyone watch wondering what move Daisy would make next. She didn’t make one til Violet and Lily was by her side.

“What’s going on?” Violet ask as she walked over to Daisy was brushing away the dust from her eyes.

Daisy made her next move by kicking Ash on the side of his leg.

“Owe!” Ash yelp a scone of breath as she did so. “What did you do that for?” Ash looked to the front of him and saw Misty still on top of him and he knew he was in trouble.

Daisy and everyone else looked at him like a dog would at a cat. Daisy stamped her foot waiting for Ash to make the next move as Ash scrambled for something, anything to say.

Ash looked at his mother who turned her gaze away just a smigge. He looked at Daisy who looked angry and her sisters who followed along with Daisy’s sentiments. He didn’t know what to say and said the first thing that came out of his mouth, “Mom, what’s for breakfast?”

Daisy was furious to hear what she heard and kicked him again, this time it hurt.

“I’m sorry, Daisy, but I really don’t know what to say.”

“What are you two doing. You can’t do that,” Daisy was finally able to let loose.

“How can you. She’s getting married tomorrow.”

“It’s okay, we didn’t do anything. It was just late at night and we... we somehow fell on one another.”

Daisy felt she was being patronized. How dare Ash try to trick her and say something so ridiculously as Misty falling on him. Daisy knew Misty and she would never do a thing like that in a million years.

“I should have just let you leave, Ash Ketchum, instead of talking you into staying.”

“Daisy, believe me, all this just happened by accident and nothing happened.”

Just as Ash was explaining, Misty heard the ruckus and woke to find herself still on top of Ash and him explaining to her sister why they were in such a position.

Misty slowly rolled off of Ash and rolled next to him in a sitting position while still half asleep.

“Oh, thank you,” Ash said relief that everything would be set to clarity now that Misty is awake. “Morning.”

“Morning,” Misty greeted back.

“Misty!” Daisy exclaimed her name. “What happened last night?”

Misty didn’t understand what Daisy was pertaining to til she realized that she was on top of Ash when she woke up. “Oh, you mean me on top of Ash,” Misty said without enthusiasm feeling embarrassed.

“Yes!” Daisy strongly confirmed.

“I guess it just happened. We were up dancing and somehow I fell asleep in Ash’s arms. I guess he did the same and fell back with me on top.”

“Yeah,” Ash said innocently agreeing with Misty, “that’s exactly what happened.”

“Like, Misty, we need to talk to you in private,” Daisy said not asking, but demanding.

The sensational sisters left leaving everyone else to stay behind with Ash. It was another awkward moment, now more with the sisters gone and Ash was left with his friends and his mother.

“Ash,” his mother began, “what do you want for breakfast,” Deliah then smiled.

Ash returned a smile and said, “anything.”

Deliah had enough of the squabble and left the room. As she left she was quite at a fancy not knowing really why she was. Well, she had an idea why, but she felt it was best not recognized.

*****

Location and Setting: After all of the misunderstandings were finally set, they went all back to business as usual. Misty was taken to Lily’s room and was as much interrogated as a suspected murderer would have been. Questions of the night before were asked. Questions like how the night led to dancing between them two. It was all innocent, was Misty’s answers. In another room, Ash was in the same predicament. Questions like what was he doing dancing with her in the first place. And if he had to dance with her, why was it when everyone was asleep? It was all by accident, was Ash’s answer to the questions. They both interrogators of each party believed the interrogated and it was back to work. Ash had taken Lily’s offer just last night to help her with her class. As Ash had promised he was there when the students arrived.

The pool just under the glass flooring sparkled glaring the sights of the students. Lily introduced her special guest and told them of Ash’s experience in the Orre Region. Ash was more than happy to take over the class.

“Okay kids, my name is Ash Ketchum. Today I will be Ms. Lily’s assistant.”

Brock and Tracey sat at the bleatchers waiting for Ash to get going with his presentation. Tracey was more than impatient to study the so-called 101 percentile pokemon Ash was bragging about last night.

The students gave Ash a hardy welcome after he had let out Snorlax who had splurted out in a beam of light from the pokeball. Tracey was afraid that Snorlax’s weight might have been too much for the glass flooring that covered the pool, but he wasn’t as nervous seeing that the kids were situated around the bleacher he had sat. It wouldn’t be too bad anyways, seeing that Snorlax had the ability to swim.

“Okay students, I first want to introduce you to my big friend Snorlax.”

“Snor lax,” the massive pokemon roared.

“You might think this snorlax is just like any other snorlax, but in closer inspection...” Ash walked close to the snorlax eyeing the pokemon to play along as Ash point out a few details, “you can see...” he then signaled the pokemon to lift his arm, “that this snorlax is just more than weight.

Tracey was now intrigue. What kind of discovery did Ash find?

“I need a volunteer,” Ash said looking out into the crowd. “Ah, yes, you in the cap.”

The boy walked up to the snorlax just as it moved back in to the edge of the pool so not to risk the boy’s life in case the glass would shatter.

“What do you feel?,” Ash asked the boy as the boy felt Snorlax’s arm.

“I feel... it feels like muscle.”

“Yes, exactly.”

*****

Location and Setting: Just outside the gym. Gary Oak had some how found out from the very reliable source that Ash was giving a lecture about his journeys in the Orre Region. This was one presentation Gary was not going to miss.

Gary opened the door to the arena where Ash was giving his presentation to find tons of people. Many of them from the travels Ash had met with Misty and Brock and Tracey.

“Oh, like, wow,” Lily couldn’t believe the many attendees that were in the gym. “Maybe we should start charging them.

Snorlax was the topic of the huge fuss. Snorlax was at the time both embarrass and felt like a star as everyone kept an eye on him.

“So Ash,” Gary said raising his hand, “what does this all mean?”

“You don’t see it?” Tracey asking Gary astonished that a pokemon researcher as him is not getting the concept of Snorlax’s bulging muscle, “it’s genius in it’s simplicity. Snorlax sacrifices his weight for pure strength.”

“No way,” Gary debated, “Snorlax are unable to gather such muscles, their body is dependent of the blubber as a whale or bear hibernating in winter. The very idea of a Snorlax pumping enough iron to get muscle is faulty.”

“No, no,” Tracey disagreed, “it may be true in some cases, but for Ash’s snorlax, it’s different. Somehow this snorlax was able to bypass all the risk of dieting and build muscle. Come here and see for yourself.”

Gary did as he was asked and went over to feel Snorlax’s figure. Sure enough it was there. Muscle had taken place. “How is this possible? It’s deadly for a snorlax’s heart to be put into a diet let alone build muscle.”

“I know it is,” said Ash remembering the time and effort put to lay rest to that diagnoses. “Snorlax and I have had to put up with such hardships to get him the way he is now.”

“Ash, this is impossible. How did you do it?” Gary asked half mesmerized.

“I can’t tell you, I’m unable to tell you, Gary. I am bound by an oath.”

“Very commendable, Ash, but we’re talking about a new discovery.”

Suddenly the door to the arena again opened. This time it was Prof. Oak.

“Oh my, am I too late?” Prof. Oak ask trying to catch his breathe.

“No, we’re just in the middle of things,” Lily answered.

“So, what’s the big deal I’ve been hearing about?” asked the professor.

“Grandpa, just feel Ash’s snorlax and you’ll see what we’re dealing with.”

Prof. Oak did as he was ask and felt the muscular build. After this much fondling, Snorlax had more than got used to the touching and didn’t mind modeling for them.

“Oh my, this snorlax has muscles.”

Everyone was in awe to see the distinguished Prof. Oak being impressed by Snorlax. Everyone in the room had known about the praised Prof. Oak; it was a rare seen as Prof. Oak is an idol when it comes to pokemon. What a great accomplishment this is.

“Excuse me,” Lily finally intruded in the conversation, “we are teaching a class of little children and you guys are hogging all the attention. Let the kids ask the question and you can talk to Ash later on your own time.”

Prof. Oak realized that it was the kids’ time and he immediately sat down on a bleacher. Tracey and Gary did the same.

Before Ash was ready to commence his presentation, the door to the arena again opened. This time it was Ash’s mom, May, Max, Misty and Dorien. All had been busy with Max taking a nap, May taking a long shower, Misty waiting for Dorien to arrive and Deliah fixing a tux for Mr. Mimey to where. It was all coincidence that they all arrived at the same time.

“Oh, this I just so annoying,” Lily complained, “what’s next, is my sisters going to come in now?”

“Calm down, Lily,” Misty reassured, “Daisy is counting the registration and Violet is asleep in her room.”

“Okay then, lets get back to the presentation,” Lily said calmer now.

“Where was I?” Ash asked himself, “oh, yeah. Snorlax, as you can see is more muscular than most snorlax. I found, in my studies, that sacrificing the blubber with muscle extenuates Snorlax’s capacity. For example; a snorlax’s strongest moves would have to consists with the use of his weight. Like I said, his weight was sacrificed, but in return we get a far more powerful result. A strong move a snorlax would use is ‘body slam’. Prof. Oak if you will confirm that?”

“Oh yes, many of snorlax’s fine strategy for battling is utilizing his weight. ‘Body slam’ is one of the strongest moves that snorlax can use.”

“Thank you for confirming, Prof. Oak.”

“Don’t mention it, Pokemon study and teaching is my life.”

“Now, since Snorlax’s body weight has been diminished, the likely hood of ‘body slam’ causing a critical hit is less likely. Though it is still very powerful, it fails in comparison to a snorlax’s full weight. But, like I said, you get a whole new result with such a build. Prof. Oak, if you please, would you tell us the measure amount of force a Machamp might put into something when it uses a punch move.”

“Of course. Lets see, a machamp would have a good chance of breaking through about ten stacks of brick wall. Is that a good example?”

“That would be fine,” Ash reassured. “Now, in my experience with Snorlax, I would have to say that taking from the example of a machamp’s strength, I’d say that Snorlax would be at least three times stronger.”

“No way!” yelled Gary in disbelief, “such a thing is just impossible. Nowhere does it ever say in any textbook that a snorlax would be able to out muscle a machamp. Machamps are pure muscle and not even the strongest snorlax has ever been able to match close to the power.”

“I know, I read that somewhere, but for some reason, Snorlax is able.”

“And how do you know that?”

“I’ve seen Snorlax match punches with other machamps and found him to be the winner in all matches.”

“No way, you have to be lying.”

“Okay, that’s it, anymore talking out of line like that and you’re out of this presentation,” Lily threatened Gary into silence.

“If I may proceed,” said Ash sounding more dignified than he’d usually speak. “Heightened strength is not only what is resultant of this new found change, but also speed. Again, Prof. Oak, can you give an example of a snorlax’s normal retaliation speed?”

“This is quite interesting, of course. Mm... let me see, oh yes. A snorlax’s retaliation speed would have to be 1.06 seconds. That of course in a pokemon battle would be very slow, compared to a pokemon of say... Scizor whose counter speed would be about .05 tenths of a second.”

“Again, thank you Prof. Oak for referencing. Well, I’d have to say Snorlax have cut the reaction time in half. Not as fast as a Scizor, but you have to acknowledge that it is very fast.”

Ash went on with his presentation. Tracey, Gary and Prof. Oak were in shivers as they patiently awaited the presentation to be over for further questioning of the presented. Though, not everything Ash present ed was believed. Gary was not taken in by all the numbers and speed ratio presented and did not want to believe in such findings. How could they be true; no one else ever found this gold mine.

Ash’s next pokemon were Pikachu and Pidgeot. Ash had explained of the two pokemon’s new acquired abilities. “Lightning speed,” Ash called the new technique learned by the two pokemon. Again, it was met with skepticism from Gary and a bit from Tracey; til it was proved.

“By breaking through the air current, a pokemon is able to ride the opening. One just has to find a way to cut through. Pikachu, Pidgeot if you two would please demonstrate for us.”

The two did as they were told and lined up at the edge that the glass flooring had started. With a twitch from the two and a blink they were already at the other side of the pool twenty-five feet away.

“Any questions?”

There were tons of hands raised waiting for the teacher to choose. Ash picked a little red-headed girl. “How do they do that?” she asked.

“It’s actually a move that consist of two moves. A pokemon first breaks through the air current by thrusting through and pulling back and using quick attack when the rip is open. With the current gone, the pokemon’s speed is much faster and free to move through open fields. It’s like a speeding bullet, but with the ability to change directions throughout the whole interval of movement.”

Hands raised again. This time it was a boy wearing a cap. “Can any pokemon do this move?”

“Well, there are pokemon who are aerodynamically built such as a Pikachu, Pidgeot, Crobat - and yes, Brock, your crobat can do this move too - but then there are those pokemon who aren’t built for speed at all. For example,” Ash took another pokeball out of his belt and let loose a Squirtle. “As we all know, turtle type pokemon are not the fastest pokemon in the world. -No offense Squirtle.”

“Squirt.”

“But, just like all the pokemon in my team, Squirtle has a new ability that you won’t find in a pokemon textbook. Squirtle, would you mind showing them.”

Squirtle got underway in exercising his new ability. Squirtle stood on his hind legs standing still looking as if he were about to burst. His feet did not move a bit, but it look like it had as a haze start to form around his being. A cold aura seem to go through the room. The kids and everyone else wrap their arms around themselves as the temperature drop more and more. A cloud of cold breeze could be seen in every breathe of the room; more than a fog, more than cold; it stunk, it hurt.

“Enough, Squirtle,” commanded Ash and Squirtle did what was asked. “Any questions?”

Hands were raised up high again shivering. Ash looked around to see who he might want to pick and accidentally saw Dorien wrapping his arms around Misty. Ash picked a girl to his right. “How did you teach Squirtle this move and what’s it called?”

“I really don’t have any names for the new moves. I simply call them out as numbers in battle. For example, if I wanted Squirtle to use this move, I would simply yell out the number four. Numbers corresponds with the moves and the pokemon memorized it and so we do it that way. It’s so my opponent have no idea what move I’m about to make.”

That’s ingenious, whispered Gary to himself.

Ash has really developed himself. All this is quite far from what he was like when he was a kid, Prof. Oak thought to himself.

“How Squirtle was able to develop such a move, I have to first say it was grueling, dangerous and not worth it. In fact, Squirtle wouldn’t have developed it at all if he wasn’t so darn pig headed.”

“Squirt,” said Squirtle eyeing Ash in a kind of look.

“Like I said, it isn’t worth it. When Squirtle was training for this new ability, I wasn’t going to let him go by himself. So, I followed him into a cavern of ice. Both of us nearly froze to death twenty times over before we were use to the extreme cold. It was lucky that my friend Kasumi was there to drag us both out when we were frozen stiff. The new move actually acts as a defense, tactical and offensive attack. It really helps when you’re in a double battle.”

Hands again raised; this time the cold had subsided and none were shivering.

“What other new moves does your pokemon have?” blurted out Misty wondering what new moves her Golduck might have learned.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t pick you,” Ash said brushing her off playfully and picked another girl to his left.

Misty frowned and was a little ticked. Dorien just laughed it off.

“What other new moves does your pokemon have?” asked the little girl.

“The pokemon have lots of new moves that I won’t have time to present -seeing that the class is over in five minutes. But, I do have bountiful amount more. Actually, most of the moves we’ve developed are old moves just strengthened. You see, that’s sort of my idealism. Don’t try new moves til you fix the old ones.”

He picked another hand, “Do you loose a lot of matches in the Orre Region?”

“Well, actually, I have my fair share of wins and defeats. Now, mostly all my matches I win -sorry if I sound a little conceited. But, you should of seen me when I first entered the Orre Region. My first six months in Orre, all I met was defeat. It wasn’t til I found a person who was as new as I was to the region. Then, after that win, my losing streak rolled again and kept on til I found new ways to battle.”

Plenty more questions were asked til the time ran out on the clock and Ash had finally stopped his presentation. Tracey, Prof. Oak and Gary practically leaped out of their seats when Ash had said his final say.

Ash saw them coming and smugly and silently stepped out along with Lily losing the three pokemon experts in the crowd. After an hour of answering questions Ash was done and needed a rest. Last night was long and he was wakened with an unfriendly audience.

A part of the bargain Lily and Ash had agreed on when the class started was that Ash get a break from watchful eye of the slave driving Misty. So, the best idea was to go in hiding; but where? The answer was suggested by Lily. Where was a place where Misty would never think of?

“You can stay in my room for a while,” Lily said getting rid of a few unmentionables and pictures that weren’t very settling if he were to find them. “I promise she won’t find you here. We never go into each other’s room.”

“Thank you, Lily. I guess I stayed up too late last night.”

“Yeah, about last night. Was that all you did?”

“Lily, what kind of guy do you think I am. If we did anything, it was all innocent.”

“Okay, sorry to ask. It’s just that you’ve known each other for such a long time. You know what happens?”

“Are you into that kind of stuff, too?”

“What stuff?”

“Never mind. I just thought you were like Misty and read those...,” before Ash was able to finish his sentence he noticed the stack of romance novels in the corner, “... never mind.”

“Oh, that? I guess we all have the same taste in literature. They’re all well written and have a great storyline.”

“That’s exactly what Misty said.”

“Well, they do.”

Ash laughed a smirk and Lily afterwards. “Okay, maybe I should give it a try, but for now, I’m just sleepy.”

“Okay, Ash. I leave you to rest. And oh, thank you for lecturing my class today. I really appreciate you doing so.”

“Don’t even think about it. It was my pleasure.”

Lily left the room to leave Ash to himself. Ash noticed the bed, so attracting, so peaceful, so soft and inviting. He just had to feel the soft feel of it’s furry pins. The pillow was as soft as a marshmallow and as cool as snow. It was begging for Ash to rest his head on it’s fluffy pedestal; and so he did. The satin sheets comforted his back and the cool blanket comforted his frame. All led to slumber. 

*****

Location and Setting: Ash has been gone for a while leaving the others to wonder where he might have been. Only Lily knew and it drove Gary and Tracey mad the way Lily played dumb. It was as if it were a case of life and death the way the two chased around for Ash, but just like Lily had promised, no one would enter her room - except when it’s an emergency.

Misty and everyone were done with the preparations of the wedding for the following day. It was a mad rush as the clock hit 6 o’clock to finalize the minor imperfections Misty had pointed out of her dream wedding, but they were finally done. Months of labor and planing were a distant memory and now it was time to wash off the odor of fatigue.

The guest were done helping and headed for their respectable hotels that the Sensational Sisters have provided. The girls were first to hit the showers as suggested by Brock who had felt chivalries after playing the role of the strong man all day as he helped girls up higher levels to hang or paint.

“Daisy, hurry up!” yelled Violet as she banged on the bathroom door, “I stink and I want to take a shower.”

“Like, wait up,” Daisy yelled back from the opposite side of the door as the water trickle down bashing the way she talked. “I just started, go see if the other restrooms are open.”

Violet thought about all the other restrooms. The two down stair are taken by Mrs. Ketchum and May. The guess restroom was taken by Max - who reserved it an hour in advance. My restroom shower isn’t working and the two other restrooms upstairs is taken by Misty and Tracey - who took it before I had the chance to enter. “No, they’re all taken.”

“What about Lily?”

“She’s in there, too!” Violet said yelling her answer.

“Well, Lily was the first to call it a day. Maybe she’s done already.”

“Okay, I’ll check.”

*****

Location and Setting: Fifteen minutes before the work was done, Lily decided to call it a day and went to her room to see Ash. To her surprise, Ash was still fully covered by her blanket and still fast asleep. It made sense for Ash to sleep this long. Ever since he arrived, he had complained about taking a rest. The night he arrived the guys forced him to stay up and last night was just the same. He looked peaceful as he lay beneath the quilt.

When Lily was over with her shower, she felt a rumble in her stomach and left to the kitchen for something to eat. She wasn’t worried with anyone coming in her room to disturb, Ash. He had lasted that long on her bed without anyone finding out, what was another fifteen minutes or so.

Five minutes after Lily left, Violet knocked on her door in search for a shower she could use. Violet called out to her sister as she banged on the door, but no such answer. Believing that her sister might be out or asleep she entered to see a body lying down on Lily’s bed. The person was covered with a blanket, naturally, Violet believed the person to be Lily. Having seen her sister in that position many times, Violet was secure that her sister was snugly in her sheets dreaming of her prince.

Without any other thought popping into Violet’s head, she whist away to her sister’s shower to take a well-deserved washing. She first tried a combination of warm and cool water, then just warm, then after a while: cool. Violet washed away the strains she obtained as she broomed, wiped, scrubbed, reached and other menial job her youngest sister set out for her. She rubbed her palms and other places that had ached. Her left wrist hurt the most when she had banged it one of the tables situated for tomorrow’s wedding.

Just in the other room, a well rested Ash stirs awaked from the moans and groans inside the restroom. All the sensational sister, except for Misty, sounded alike so he had no doubt in his mind that it was Lily inside her restroom. He rose from his lying and hugged the soft material that acted as his blanket. It felt so comforting that he might want to stay laid down for a couple of minutes - and so he did.

Violet was finally done with her shower and got out of the tub. She wrapped herself in a towel and headed out of the restroom to look into Lily’s vanity mirror. Violet would have used the one in the restroom but it was fogged by the steam when she used the warm water. Violet then began to blow dry her hair as she would usually do after every shower.

Hearing a hoooing noise that came from the blow drier, Ash again woke up.

Violet notice the body stirring from the reflection of the mirror and had just realized that using the blow drier woke up her sister, so she turned it off and unplugged the appliance. “Like, sorry Lily, I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

Hearing that he was being mistaken for Lily, naturally, Ash got up and corrected her, “I’m not Lily.”

A horrified scream was heard throughout the gym/house.

Being unprepared and not expecting Ash to be under the covers, Violet accidentally let loose of her towel leaving Ash with a show.

Ash got out of the bed and started apologizing not realizing that he still had a view of Violet. “Oh, I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to... I was just here because...” said Ash trying to calm Violet as she crutched over trying to hide as much as she could.

It was useless for her to do so, the towel was dropped too far away for her to reach and didn’t try to attain it not wanting Ash a chance getting a better look.

Ash kept apologizing not thinking of the most viable solution. The towel was right by his feet, but he was too distracted and had not thought of it.

Violet screamed again as Ash had accidentally tripped and caught her on the shoulder. “Just leave me alone!” yelled Violet as Ash tried to pick himself up.

Just as Ash began to think the situation could not get any worse, the door opens and finds Misty looking at him and her sister on the floor with Violet fully de-clothed.

“It’s not what you think,” stated Ash right before Misty could start.

The situation became worse as May enter the scene.

Misty pushed Ash over and handed Violet her towel and guided her into the restroom.

Before May could say a word; entered Daisy.

“Like, what’s going on?!” Daisy asked panicked remembering the tantalizing scream he’d heard just moments ago.

The situation turned deadly as entered: Brock, Tracey, Max and with Deliah in the back unable to see the transaction taking place.

“What’s going on?” tapped Max as he asked his older sister.

“Ash was in her when Violet was...” May whispered the rest in Max’s ears.

“Ash, you are a bad boy, now!” exclaimed Max.

 “It was all an accident!” Ash pleaded to his most respected friends, “just ask Lily.”

“So you and Lily were...?” Brock said eyeing Ash in a way.

“No, it’s not like that.”

Misty came out of the restroom and was more than ticked off at Ash.

“Misty, I was only...” before Ash could explain Misty pulled back her hand and thrust it to Ash’s face as hard as she could leaving a red hand print on Ash’s face.

“How dare you do that to my sister?!” Misty asked angry and disgusted by Ash’s very presence by her.

“Please, Misty, I didn’t do...”

Misty cut him off again as the image of Ash’s face burned her with rage, “Stop it. Ever since you came here you’ve caused trouble.”

“...what?” Ash was astonished to hear such a thing from Misty.

“You ruin my wedding planning party, you make May hate me, and now this!”

“That was all just accidents,” Ash said pleading.

“‘Just accidents’,” Misty repeated, “that’s what you do now, huh?”

“Do what?” asked Ash not getting what she was pointing towards.

“You’re always making excuses now. You leave me for five years and you make excuses now. I didn’t think..., no, I didn’t want to believe you turned to a jerk in the last five years, but here it is.”

“You have it all wrong, just ask...” again Ash was cut off.

“Shut up. I don’t want to hear anymore excuses. I know what you’re trying to do.” Ash looked into Misty’s eyes and saw something he’s never seen in her. He saw the contemp and anger and hatred she described to him last night. He could see that she was telling the truth when she had said she hated him.

“Misty...” Ash said blankly as he saw the tears slide down Misty’s eyes. Her blue eyes that he’d miss so many times years ago that he would not try to miss, now, blurred, but he clearly saw her anger. He saw the very fire that raged insider her soul and he was the cause of.

“You’re trying to get back at me. That’s what you’re doing. I’m getting married and now you’re trying to get back at me because it’s not you. You’re jealous and this is the only way you can think of. I hate you!”

Not all of that was true, but also not all of it was a mistake. Ash knew what he needed to do.

“Fine, do you want to know the truth? If you want to know, yes. Yes, I might be jealous and at some point of me being here, I’ve reached for something to happen. I have thought about things like that. I thought about our friendship and questioned if it was ever like before. And the answer to that is, no. I, also didn’t want to believe in what was clearly right in front of me.”

The others watched as the two bicker their most emotional bicker they had ever had. Misty was just at the offense as she charged with all collective faults Ash has ever done to her and his friends. She had dropped the bomb and Ash blew up as the force massacre everything in sight. What Ash had might have been sticks and stones to fight compared with what Misty had. With Misty, her arsenal consisted of two more atom bombs and a few air strikes capable of total and utter destruction. Yet, Ash was the type to never give up and always keep coming even after the fight is hopeless.

“There’s nothing right in front of you, but your desire to be the best. Isn’t that what you’ve been telling everyone?”

“What’s in front of me has been in front of my eyes ever since I came here. I just didn’t want to realize that it was over. You were my best friend for years, but now I don’t even think we can stay friends. I know I’ve hurt you somehow, but I can’t stay here anymore knowing that you hate me so much. Back then you at least gave me a chance to explain. Now, you don’t even have to tell me, I can see it in your eyes. I’ll go back to Orre.”

Ash walked through the crowd of his friends and headed for the guest room.

“Brock, please,” Deliah pleaded, “you have to stop him. You know he’s not the kind of person to do something like this.”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Ketchum, but I don’t know whether he is or he isn’t. Misty has a point; Ash is different.”

*****

Ash walked as fast as he could along side the aquarium halls with Pikachu holding on for dear life trying to persuade Ash to stop. He was as stubborn as ever, Pikachu thought. He would always shoot straight forward once Ash has made a decision and that was what Pikachu respected about his friend, but in this case it was different. Most of the times he was too stubborn it would have been at a good cause, such as winning a badge or helping a friend, but this time it was walking away from a friend. In fact, it might be a walk that would never be taken again.

Ash grabbed the door that exited the gym and was caught in the hand. It was Lily offering her apologies for herself and her sister. Lily had just heard the news from May and quickly chased after Ash who was done with the whole situation and ready to go back to the place he’d spent for the last five years. He didn’t want to reminisce anymore. What good is reminiscing when you know it is all in the past and unattainable?

“Ash, it’s okay, we’ll tell Misty that it was just an accident and it was my fault. You can, like, put your backpack back and everything will be okay. I’ll explain it all to Violet, too.”

Despite Lily’s offer, Ash knew it was more than just telling Misty the horrible misunderstanding, it was also about his confession. Ash still couldn’t believe he’d admitted the truth. He would have been happy with the whole wedding if it had already occurred today and he’d never have to tell Misty, ever, what he wanted to tell her.

“No, Lily. It’s more than just fixing some horrible mistake. The mistake I made is unamenable.”

“Ash, no, we’ll tell her that you just went to my room and slept there for the last four hours or so.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. My mistake was made years ago and I would never be able to turn back time to try. In fact, I don’t think I’d try to fix what I did anyways, so goodbye.”

“Like, that’s all you’re going to do? You’re just going to go? Where are you going?”

“Simple as it may seem, it is. I’m going back to Pallet and get pokemon to replace Golduck and Crobat. I dare not get them back from Brock and Misty.”

Lily let go of his wrist and watched him walk away; til he turned back.

“I just knew that you weren’t going to give up that easily,” said Lily stricken by Ash’s turn.

“No, I just want to give you this.” Ash pulled out his wallet and pulled out the picture he lied about not having last night.

“What is this of?” asked Lily looking at the girl in the picture that resembled her sister so much.

“The girl is Kasumi and of course the guy is me. Tell Misty this is for whatever she thinks of me.” Ash looked at her hard heartedly, “please deliver it for me.”

Though Lily hated the idea of playing messenger girl, she knew she owed Ash for her big mistake in not keeping Violet out of her room.

“Alright, Ash.” Lily took the photo to heart as she studied it. “Goodbye, Ash.” Lily wave goodbye as Ash did.

Ash walked away as fast as he could.

*****

Here you are. Review? Posted 10/24/05