Ash's breath was taken away.
"Misty?"
"Hi, Ash." Misty smiled. It was the same voice he had heard over the phone, but now he saw who it was. Misty looked different. Her hair was let down, stopping just above her shoulders. And her blue eyes were a darker shade than they had previously been. But, she was wearing a sparkling red dress with red high-heel shoes and red lipstick and long red gloves. Ash smiled nervously.
"I...Hi." They both walked up to each other. As they neared each other, Misty threw her arms around Ash's torso.
"Uh..." Ash blushed a little bit. Misty pulled back, but kept her hands on his sides. She giggled a bit, a tugged at his hair.
"Same old Ash. Hey! You're taller than me!" Misty said with a smile. It was true. Ash found himself about 3 inches taller than she was.
"Well, uh...you look great, Misty."
"Thank you, Ash! You look very handsome, yourself."
"Thanks." Ash replied. Misty then looked at Brock, and made a disgusted face.
"Brock...you have something on your mouth..." Misty mumbled.
"I do??" Brock whipped out his handkerchief from his front pocket and wiped his mouth. To Brock's dismay, the handkerchief was covered in barbecue sauce.
"Oh, boy." He mumbled, and then cleared his throat. Misty giggled lightly and hugged Brock as well, happy to be back with her two best friends.
"Same old Brock, as well. Some things never change." Misty said with a smile. Misty broke her hug and they just stood there for a few seconds, looking at each other again, noticing what changes there were.
"I guess...we should head over to the party?" Ash spoke up. Misty and Brock nodded. Ash turned around, just to be hit by a brilliant flash of light that shocked him so much, it knocked him off his feet.

Ash sat there on the ground, holding one hand up to shield his eyes.
"Ash, are you okay?" Misty asked as both of them came to help Ash up. But they had a bit of trouble with the bright light. Ash groaned.
"Somebody please turn that light off!" Ash yelled from afar.
"There he is, ladies and gentlemen!" A voice spoke up through a microphone that connected to the speakers. Finally the light turned away. "The World's Greatest Pokémon Master and Birthday Boy!" It was the DJ speaking, using a large light to blind them, in Ash's opinion. Ash stood up, with the help of Misty and Brock now, and everyone over at the stage cheered.
"What about us?" Misty asked, only speaking to Brock and Ash.
"Talk about being the underdogs." Brock said with a frown.
"Don't worry about it. You're both special to me." Ash said with a smile. Brock and Misty smiled. Ash then turned around and walked over to where the crowd was, leading Brock and Misty. Ash was nearing closer when a loud engine was heard nearing closer to him, moving as fast a lightning. The car zoomed past Ash, and Ash got a glimpse of the driver, which made him frown. It was a shiny, red convertible, with cheering women in the backseat and front seat. The car swerved, and was face to face with Ash, but it didn't cease. The car sped at Ash, but he stood his ground.
"Ash!!" Misty and Brock yelled, fearing for his safety. Ash just stood there, as the car was nearing closer. Suddenly, the car's brakes screeched, and it started to stop, skidding a good 40 feet or so, stopping just inched away from Ash.
"Gary." Ash mumbled.

The brown-haired boy jumped out of the car, but he, too had aged. Gary was much taller. He was about an inch taller than Ash, and his hair was spiked upwards instead of hanging in different places like it did before. Gary wore a Hawaiian shirt with khaki shorts and green sandals, like he had just come from a vacation. Gary's hands were buried in his pockets, as he neared his way up to Ash.
"GARY! GARY! HE'S THE ONE! HE'LL BEAT ASH, HE'S NUMBER ONE!" Brock stood there, hunched over, drooling at the sight of the same girls. Misty groaned and placed her hands on her hips.
"Some things never change, huh, Brock?" Brock didn't respond. Ash frowned a bit, almost about to blurt out an accept to a challenge that wasn't even made. Gary stood a few inches away from Ash, staring eye to eye with him. Gary slowly lifted his hand out of his pocket and extended it to Ash. Ash didn't hesitate to shake his hand, as if they were best buddies. Brock and Misty were surprised. They never thought they'd see what they were seeing just now. They're hands released, and they continued to stand there, silent. As if this was a big moment, everyone in the crowd went silent. The only sounds heard were the light breeze blowing in the evening air and the light chirping of crickets.
"It's been a while, Ashy boy." Gary said. Ash suddenly didn't think that was Gary. His voice was so much deeper and less obnoxious, but for that, he was glad.
"I guess so, Gary. Where have you been?"
"Vacation, Pokémon Master. I lost to you fair and square, and for that, I respect you. After that, I just took a break from Pokémon Battling altogether." He said that with shrug like it wasn't a big deal.
"And you didn't come here just to try and beat me for the title?"
"No way, Ashy! I came here for the Party!" As he said the word Party, he faced the crowd, and they all cheered like he was a celebrity. After that, everyone carried on with their conversations and the music resumed, so did the dancing. "Congratulations, Ash. You really are the World's Greatest Pokémon Master." Gary said as if Ash was his idol. Ash grinned.
"Thanks, Gary." Meanwhile, Misty and Brock were so stunned, they're mouths were hanging open, but they quickly composed themselves. Gary began to walk toward where the action was, when a certain red dress caught the corner of his eye. Gary turned to face Misty who was a very ravishing sight, indeed. Gary looked her over, almost in awe.
"Who's this red-headed beauty?" Gary asked with a grin, but he was only kidding. Misty looked down and blushed ever so lightly. Ash, on the other hand, didn't exactly take that as a joke. Gary smiled at Misty, and was about to continue toward the crowd when Ash yelled harshly at Gary.

"YOU TAKE THAT BACK, YOU LOSER!" Ash pretty much caught the attention of everyone at that point. Gary turned around, a bit shocked, to see a very angry Ash Ketchum.
"Ash!" Misty yelled at Ash, her hand over her mouth like she couldn't believe he just said that.
"Ash?" Gary looked confused and hurt at the same time, since he just ended his rivalry with Ash. Ash snapped out of it. He looked at everyone.
"Oh, my God..." Ash mumbled. He was so embarrassed not only for blurting that out, but for blurting it out in front of the whole town...and Misty. Ash felt like an ass at that point.
"I am so...sorry, Gary. I didn't mean...to say that." Ash didn't know what else to do. "Sorry." He said as he turned around, heading back to his house, sulking. "Wait, Ash." Gary called after him. Ash turned his head around.
"I accept your apology." Gary said sincerely. Ash ran his fingers through his hair and let out a sigh of relief. He turned around, chuckling a bit with his hand rubbing the back of his head.
"Thanks." Ash said, and everybody continued their festivities as if nothing just happened. Misty, on the other hand, didn't accept Ash's apology, and she turned away, walking toward Gary, seemingly almost comforting him. The two walked over to the crowd with Gary's Pep Squad following right behind him. Brock walked over to Ash, as Ash just stared at Misty giving Gary her attention. Brock placed a hand on his shoulder.
"She hates me, doesn't she?"
"She doesn't hate you, Ash, she's just mad at you. She'll get over it." Ash sighed again, not too happy at what he said.
"But I think what you need to do is apologize to her as well."
"I will, I will." Ash immediately responded. They stood there silent as Gary and Misty walked farther away.
"Ash..." Brock waited for his response.
"Yeah, Brock?" Ash responded, still a bit down.
"Do you have a crush on Misty?"