Love Pallet

Episode 2: Popstar Resolution

by Kenshin

A/N: Last time, on Love Pallet, Ash was left heartbroken when Misty ran away to pursue a career as a popstar. What will happen now? Will Ash be able to overcome his feelings of loss and betrayal? Will Misty realize her mistake? Will Brock get another date with Daisy? Find out now, in this episode of Love Pallet: Popstar Resolution!


Brock was sorry to leave Cerulean City and Daisy behind, but as soon as he had awoken the next morning he remembered the reason he had come here in the first place. He jumped out of bed and rushed to get dressed. As he was headed for the door, Daisy saw he and yelled, "Are you, like, leaving?" "Yeah, sorry I've gotta rush out, but I'm worried about Misty and Ash. There's no telling what happened last night without me there to mediate." "Like, okay. Call me," she said sadly. He gave her a big grin as he replied, "I will!"

He ran all the way from the gym to the pokecenter. When he arrived he found Ash's room empty. He check Misty's room next: also empty. He breathed a sigh of relief. 'They must have left this morning,' he thought. "Guess it's time for me to go to Pallet Town," Brock said to himself, "I need to talk to Delia about Ash."

Brock took his time getting to Pallet Town. He had convinced himself after seeing both Ash and Misty gone from the pokecenter that they had at least stopped fighting. Why else would they both be gone when he got back? It took him until late that evening to make his way to Pallet, and he was tired when he finally reached the Ketchum's front door.

*ding-dong! ding-dong!* "Hello, who is it?" asked Delia Ketchum as she peered through the peephole. "Oh, goodness," she said, opening the door, "come in Brock." Brock stepped into the Ketchum living room...to find Ash sitting on the couch. "Hey, Ash!" he said, "Where's Misty?"

Ash gave Brock a look that would have made a Gyrados run home crying for its mother. Brock was completely taken aback. "Umm... what's wrong?" he asked, looking at Delia for an answer. "Now, Brock sweetie, don't get upset if he yells at you," she whispered to him quietly just before the dam broke.

"What's wrong? What's WRONG?!" Ash screamed hysterically, "Misty is! She left me! She hates me!" Saying those words out loud again was all he could take. He broke down again, curling up into a fetal position. "Oh, dear...there now, sweetie. I'm here," said Delia as she ran over to Ash and hugged him tightly.

Brock was speechless. He had assumed that this was just another "lover's spat" that the two teens had been going through, albeit much worse than the previous ones. But then, he had thought that was because their feelings for each other were deepening. That was true, if Ash's reaction to Misty leaving was any evidence. But how did Misty feel? Had she really left? Brock's mind struggled to come up with answers, but he had none.

"Mrs. Ketchum, I'm going to call the Cerulean gym and see if Daisy knows where Misty's gone," said Brock. "Okay, I'm sure Ash will thank you once he feels a little better," she said, patting her son affectionately on the head. His whole body was shaking with each breath as he cried. Brock couldn't stand seeing him like this. This was awful. How could Misty do this to him?

He looked away from his moaning compatriot and focused all his attention on dialing the videophone. After a few rings someone picked up. He saw Lilly's face appear on the screen. "Like, hi Brock. How's our little sis?" "Lilly, I need you to get Daisy for me," Brock said, putting some seriousness into his tone. "Like, is she okay, Brock? If something's wrong, you should tell me." "Lilly, I don't know where Misty is. She left, and Ash isn't taking it very well. I was gone, so I don't know what happened, but I need to talk to Daisy." "Like, okay, I'll go get her," Lilly told him, sounding concerned. Brock sat in front of the phone for a minute before he heard Daisy say, tentatively, "Brock?"

He looked up, tears welling in his eyes. "Hey," he said, trying to keep his tone steady. "Hey yourself. What's this about Misty leaving?" "I wish I knew more, but Ash can't stop crying. That's all he said before he broke down. That and "she hates me"," he said gravely. "That doesn't sound good," she agreed, "but none of us have seen her. If we do, we'll keep her under house arrest until you or Ash can get here." "Thanks, Daisy." "Don't mention it, Brock..." she looked like she thought for a moment then asked, "Should I be worried about her? This doesn't sound like something she would do. I had every impression that she liked Ash. A lot, in fact." "Same here. I don't know what could have happened, but we have to find out."

***

Unfortunately, Misty had already been home. None of her sisters had noticed, but she had snuck in, packed her belongings, and left again. As she sat outside on a park bench in the middle of Cerulean City, she wondered where she would go. She didn't want to live with her sisters, because she was sure they would bring up Ash. Her mind replayed the scene she had seen earlier: Ash and Nurse Joy, hugging tightly, his head resting on her shoulder. She had been rubbing his back. She felt like she was going to cry again, but then she found her resolve. 'If that's the way you want it Ash, then you'll never have to see or hear from me again.'

She suddenly remembered the business card she had gotten at the talent competition. 'You've found a new life, Ash. Now I'm going to find mine.'

***

A month passed before anybody heard a peep from Misty. Even then, it wasn't a phone call or a letter. Ash was the first one to hear the song. He was playing his radio in his room while reading a pokemon magazine. He hadn't been out of town seen he had gotten home a month earlier, and he hadn't trained any of his pokemon either. He didn't feel like doing anything. The only small joy in his life was when he let his pokemon out every day to let them stretch their legs and play in his yard.

As he absentmindedly flipped pages, half skimming an article on the new pokemon transfer service and half thinking about Misty, he heard a familiar voice. It was the radio. He sat up suddenly, jarring Pikachu, who had been curled up on his chest. He didn't even notice his friend's complaints as he sat there on his bed, enthralled by the singing. Then, the song was over. He heard the DJ backannouncing that it was from a new album by "Mistaria", but he had known who it was. Even after hearing only one note.

He was surprised to find himself crying again. He hadn't cried in a week and a half. He suddenly remembered in vivid detail the talent show, and how he had felt, staring at Misty. He remembered how beautiful she had been, and how beautiful her voice had been. He remembered the record exec, too. Now he understood. She had been planning on leaving all along. This realization made Ash feel numb inside. It felt like somebody had ripped out his intestines. He might have vomitted, but he hadn't eaten very much in the past few days. His mother called up to him, "Ash, come down here! You've been up there for three days, only coming down to eat and let out your pokemon! I feel like I don't have a son anymore, just a stranger living in my house!"

He knew she was right, so he got up and slowly walked downstairs, Pikachu trailing sadly behind him. Pikachu's usual bright mood, which had cheered a few days after they had gotten home, had now reached a new low. Pikachu had thought that Ash was slowly but surely recovering, and he would be fine in a few more weeks, but the song had hit him pretty hard.

"Surprise!" said a familiar voice. As looked up to see Brock standing in his living room, along with Jessie and James. Ash didn't even raise an eyebrow. He just plopped down on the couch after saying, "Hi guys," in dejected tones. "What's wrong now?" asked Brock. "I just heard...her...on the radio. She left me to become a pop star," he said, smiling weakly. "She sounded happy..." He managed to hold his tears in this time, but they were plainly visible in his eyes. "Maybe this was a bad time to come," said Jessie, looking at James. "Ummm...will you be okay?" James asked Ash. He looked at the two Team Rocket members and the ghost of a smile appeared on his lips again. "Yeah, thanks. I appreciate you guys coming to see if I'm okay, but maybe you could come back later?" "Of course," said Jessie, standing to leave. When she had heard that Ash was out of commission, she hadn't believed it. Now, however, she couldn't believe how bad he looked. 'The poor guy is taking this really hard...' "Try to feel better soon. We can have a pokemon battle," James tried to sound cheery, "We won't even try to snatch Pikachu, right Jessie?" "Come on, James, let's go..."

Ash watched the two Rockets go, and then sighed and sniffed a few times after they shut the door. He hadn't expected them to show him support like this and he really appreciated it, but he was just feeling too bad to show appreciation for anything right now. "Ash, I'm going to find her and give her a piece of my mind," Brock stated, standing to show his resolve. "No, just let it go," said Ash, "It was her choice. If that's what she wants, then I want her to be happy." "No, Ash. I'm not going to stand by and just watch. Not this time. This is hitting you too hard. She has to know what it's doing to you."

Ash sighed again. He could see there was no swaying his good friend's loyalty with words. "Okay, I can't stop you. Just please remember one thing: if she doesn't want to see me, don't force her. That would be worse for me in the long run." "Alright, Ash. Don't worry. I'm sure she didn't mean for it to be this way. This has got to be some kind of misunderstanding." Ash appreciated the kind words, but he didn't see how it could be a misunderstanding. He waved his friend off as Brock left, heading for Stone Records, Inc.

***

It had been two weeks since Brock had left to talk to Misty. Ash had given up hope of him finding her, when he got a phone call one night. It was Brock. "Hey, Ash! Feeling better?" he looked concerned still. "Yeah, a little. Did you...find it?" he asked, referring to the record company headquarters. "Yeah, I found the hq, put they do their recording and promotions somewhere else. I've got the address, though. Here, right this down. It's closer to you, so you can go talk to her instead." Brock knew this move was a gamble, but if it worked, it would be much more effective than if he talked to Misty. "I...I can't do that Brock. I just can't! What if...what if all the things I've said...all my fears..." Ash looked scared, "what if they're true?" "They can't be Ash. I know she cares about you. That's none of us have heard from her. She's afraid that if she sees you, she won't be able to stay away." "But why did she leave?" Brock looked sullen, but kept his voice firm. "The only person who can answer that is Misty."

***

Ash remembered that phone conversation with Brock clearly. That had been four days ago. He was now in Micville, a big recording hub. He was here to find Misty. "Well, Pikachu, I guess I should have expected to hear that song here, huh?" he asked pitifully. "Pikachu," said his friend, trying to make him feel a little better. "Well, let's go find Misty..." he said.

They had been wandering around town for a few hours looking for the Stone Records recording studio. Ash stopped to ask for directions at a gas station. The attendant told him that they were on the other side of town. He didn't know where the studios were exactly, but he narrowed the area for Ash quite a bit. "Thanks a lot!" said Ash as he walked toward the area the attendant had detailed. Pikachu noticed that there was a hint of a spring in his step. 'Please, don't let her crush him again...'

***

Misty saw him. She did a double-take to make sure, but it was him. She would have recognized him, even without the Pikachu on his shoulder. How could she not? The boy who had broken her heart. Why was he here? What had she done now, to deserve this? She quickly turned down a side street to escape his notice, but he unwittingly followed her. She sat down on a bench and buried her nose in the newspaper she had been carrying. 'Please, don't let him see me...'

Ash saw her though. He recognized her immediately. Her legs, her hands, her arms, and her hair. It was her. The girl who had broken his heart. Why was he here? Why was he putting himself through this? The answer came to his mind immediately. 'I have to know...'

"Misty?" he said quietly, not really wanting to start the conversation, but knowing he had to. "What do you want?" she asked, angrily biting off her words. "Why...?" he asked simply. Suddenly, he was in his dream again. That terrible nightmare where she left him, brokenhearted. "Ash, why did you come here? I know you hate me! Why can't you leave me alone?!" Ash was shocked. He couldn't say anything for a few moments. He just stood their with his jaw hanging loose, not believing the words he had just heard. "Misty...I don't hate you! I could *never* hate you, because I love you! I can't stand not being around you! Please, don't leave me alone again!"

"You...you...love me?" she sobbed, breaking down for the first time since the night she had left. She had begun to think she was getting over him. She had started to convince herself that she had never loved him. She realized now that it was only the cold numbness of not having him around.

"Misty..." he said, then repeated louder, "Misty!" He ran to her as she stood there, crying. He stretched his arms out and garthered her up, twirling her around in the air. "Ash...I missed you..."

***

By the time Ash and Misty returned to his house in Pallet Town, Brock was already there. "Hey Brock," said Ash, grinning. 'He looks just like his old self,' thought Brock, 'guess it went well...' "Umm...hi Brock," said Misty. "Misty?! You found her?" Brock looked a little surprised. "Yeah, Brock. We...talked for a while and worked everything out," Ash said. "It was all a big misunderstanding," said Misty. She looked ashamed. "Now, now, let's talk about this over dinner," said Delia, interrupting. "Mom!" "Hi...Mrs. Ketchum," said Misty. She had looked ashamed while talking to Brock, but she looked absolutely humiliated now that she was addressing Ash's mother. "Hello, Misty. I assume you're staying for dinner." "Yes...that is if that's okay..." Misty said quietly, staring at the ground. "Sure it is, right mom?" asked Ash. "Of course," replied Delia.

The three teenagers followed Delia into the kitchen without another further conversation. As they quietly ate their dinner Brock kept looking from Ash to Misty, back and forth. He caught them stealing glances at each other so many times he lost count. Delia took notice as well, but declined to comment. Finally, when everyone was done eating, Brock spoke up. "So, what happened anyway?" "What do you mean, Brock? Do you mean when I found Misty or when she left?" "I'd like to hear both stories," said Delia.

***

An hour later, all four of them were laughing in the Ketchums' living room. "So, you thought Ash was falling for nurse Joy?" asked Delia, chuckling. "Hey, that's my job!" Brock yelled, holding up a shaking fist. Then, he too broke into a fit of laughter. "I had no idea you were crying Ash...I thought you were just hugging her," Misty admitted. "Ah, it's no big deal. I guess you could say *she* was hugging *me*." Everyone chuckled at that. "Hey, Brock, why don't you call her and tell her everything worked out?" asked Ash, winking. Brock blushed a little. "Actually, you can do it." "Huh?" Ash and Misty said together. "Well, umm...I have a girlfriend..." "WHAT?!" Delia joined them this time. "Hey...that's unfair..." Brock complained.

"So Brock, who is it?" asked Ash. "It's..." "Wait, let us guess!" squealed Misty. "Umm..okay, but you'll never get it right!" said Brock. "Oh, yeah?! C'mon Ash, let's think!" said Misty, linking her arm through his as they sat next to each other on the couch. Ash blushed slightly. "Okay...let's see..." Ash and Misty held a whispered conference for a few moments, then nodded at each other and grinned. "It's gotta be a Joy!" said Ash. "No, it's a Jenny!" Misty disagreed. "You're both wrong." said Brock. "Hmmm...it's Daisy, I bet," said Delia.

"Huh?" "WHAT?" Ash and Misty each wore looks of disbelief. Brock looked surprised. "How did you know?" Delia grinned. Misty and Brock realized that they had seen that look before on Ash. "Oh, a little...Waterflower told me," Delia grinned.

"Like, hi honey," said Daisy as she walked into the living room. "Daisy!" said Misty, running to hug her sister. "Like, hi to you too Misty," Daisy tittered. She returned the hug, then walked over to Brock. "So, how have *you* been?" she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Gaa.." His cheeks were burning. "Oh, yeah? Well, Ash has a girlfriend now, too! Right, Ash?" she said, looking at him expectantly. "Hehe, that's right. Nurse Joy!" All the color drained out of Misty's face. Brock's jaw dropped. Delia looked confused for a moment, then she looked a little angry. Ash immediately started laughing nervously.

"Ahh, Mist. I was only kidding," Ash said sincerely. "That was cruel, Ash! No wonder she left," said Brock. "Oh, come one Brock. You know I've never done anything like that before," Ash stammered. "Yeah, sure. We'll let Misty be the judge of that," Brock said. Delia and Daisy nodded in agreement. All three turned to look at Misty.

Misty looked like she was about to cry again. "Ahh, Misty. I'm sorry. I..." Ash began. He was cut off when Misty hit on over the head with her clenched fist. "That's for the distasteful joke..." she said. Then she grabbed him and kissed him. "...and that's for coming after me," she finished as she broke the kiss. Ash was speechless. He just sat there grinning.

"Like, go little sis!" said Daisy. "Wow, so you two are an item now," said Brock, sounding anything but surprised. "Umm...Ash, we need to talk," said Delia.

FIN

See, better wasn't it? Anyway you know what to do. jon_schug@yahoo.com for anybody with an opinion (good or bad, doesn't matter). Just email me! I'm bored and need somebody to talk to! *sigh* What a loser I am...

Sayonara,
Kenshin