The Age of Not Believing
By: Jaggy
searching everywhere for something true,
you’re at the age of not believing,
when all the make-believe is through.
Misty placed her keys on the bedside table; she'd had a long hard day at her first job of the day working as a waitress at the Café de Sosiego. She glanced up at the clock in her small kitchen and saw that she only had 30 minutes to get ready to go to her second waitressing job at the Trainer's Bar and Grill. Same as every day she quickly changed her clothes and jumped into her car and rushed off to her job.
Ash sighed as he plopped down on his couch that night and glanced at a small framed photograph of two very happy youths sitting on the beach sharing an overly large ice cream sundae. He smiled at the photo taken only 2 years ago of a 15 year old him and a 16 year old Misty. It was hard to believe that 2 years would rob him of all the hope he had in that photograph. He sighed again and turned on the television to see only news reports of the aftermath of the war with Team Rocket, the war that took everything dear to Ash Ketchum.
and your dreams are lost upon a shelf,
you’re at the age of not believing
and, worst of all, you doubt yourself.
Misty walked into her home for a second time; only she was much more tired than she had been three hours ago. Her feet were blistered and she had a pounding headache. The Trainer's Bar and Grill was much busier tonight than normal. Misty turned her bathtub water on. As soon as the tub was filled with warm, soapy water Misty undressed herself and gently got into the tub. Her mind was filled with memories of before the Team Rocket war, of when she traveled around with the love of her life, yet never telling him that she loved him. But during the war they had been separated and she believed he was dead. She had no idea why she was thinking of Ash right now, but for some reason she did and her eyes filled with tears. She had long since stopped believing that he could still be alive and she knew if she kept on like this she'd talk herself into believing he still might be out there. 'No, stop thinking about him, this is your life now,' her head screamed to her aching heart. But her heart didn't want to stop, her heart wanted to see Ash's face again, hear his laugh and see his smile.
on a barren isle in a lonely sea.
Where did all the happy endings go?
Where can all the good times be?
"Misty," Ash whispered to himself. How he wished she were still alive, but that hope had vanished on that fateful night that they'd run into Team Rocket and they'd been ripped apart, never to see each other again. He swore to himself if he could see her just one more time he'd tell her what he'd always been so afraid to say, he'd poor his heart out and tell her how much she meant to him how much he...loved her. Ash felt his throat tighten and his eyes water. He missed her so much but there was no way she could be alive, was there? Where would she be? Cerulean City? No, her sisters were there and they hadn't made any sort of contact with Ash what so ever, not that he was anywhere he could be contacted. 'I'll find her,' Ash suddenly thought to himself, as a fire within him began to burn again, one he never thought he'd feel again. He got up and called his loyal Pikachu to his side, the only thing he thought had survived the war.
doubting everything you ever knew,
until at last you start believing
there’s something wonderful in you.
Ash smiled as he flew in the air on the back of his Charizard. His heart was beating wildly and he knew she was alive; his hope had been rekindled by some unexplainable force. He was a believer again. "I'm coming Misty!" he shouted, he was following his heart, something he hadn't done in a long time. If he truly loved her, he knew his heart would take him to her.
and, worst of all, you doubt yourself.
You’re a castaway where no one hears you
on a barren isle in a lonely sea.
Where did all the happy endings go?
Where can all the good times be?
Misty was restless, she couldn't bring herself to sleep. She felt as if something big was about to happen. For once, today she felt as if she didn't want to keep her mind busy to keep out unwanted memories that would distract her from her work. So she called in sick at both her jobs that morning and dressed quickly to take a walk. She strolled out of the city onto Olivine City's sandy beach. The day was cloudy and cool, so the beach was empty. Misty pulled her light pink jacket closer around herself. She had no idea why she was out here and she shuttered at how the depressing weather reflected her heart; cold and distant. She'd built up such a strong barrier around herself since her and Ash's final departure and now it was falling down because of a hopeless hope. What did she expect coming out here? To find Ash waltzing down the beach into her arms? "This is stupid," she muttered to herself shivering slightly. She turned her back on the ocean and started to walk back towards where she'd parked her car when something stopped her. She could have sworn someone had just called her name and she turned around, still seeing nothing but ocean and beach. Her heart was racing faster, but she ignored it and turned back toward her car. But this time she distinctly heard it. "Misty!" the voice was distant yet recognizable, but she hardly dared to believe herself.
doubting everything you ever knew,
until at last you start believing
there’s something wonderful in you.
Ash saw the gorgeous red-head from in the sky. He knew her anywhere and he was instantly filled with a joy he'd never imagined. His heart fell slightly as he saw that she was turning away, he desperately called out to her. "MISTY!" he wasn't sure if she'd heard him, he was so far and the wind was beginning to blow harder. But then she turned around as though looking for the source of the sound. She shook her head; she wasn't going to believe what she'd heard. Misty's figure turned again and Ash couldn't let her go, he was getting closer as Charizard flapped its wings desperately trying to catch her before it was too late. "MISTY!" Ash screamed again. This time he knew she heard him. She froze and turned around again, only this time to be greeted by a large dragon Pokemon and its raven haired rider flying at her full speed. She jumped back just in time for the Pokemon and trainer to land, but she looked at Ash hardly daring to believe he was real.
Ash! It was Ash! There he was standing right in front of her. Her heart was screaming at her to move, run into his arms and never let him go, but her head was still registering the fact that Ash Ketchum was standing right in front of her alive and healthy. He looked at her and smiled. "Misty?" he questioned softly. This time her brain clicked into gear. Ash was there! He was ALIVE! "ASH!" she shouted happily and ran into his arms. He hugged her tight and said, "I'm here Misty, I'm here, and I'm never going to leave you again!" Happy tears were streaming down both of their faces. Neither one had to say that they loved each other, for it was obvious to the both of them, and ever so gently their lips met. Both were filled with a wonderful, indescribable feeling that could be nothing short of love and neither would ever stop believing again.