This story was originally called ‘Don’t Say You Love Me’ on fan fiction.net, but due to some problems it was removed and I decided to change the title, as well as some details in the story. There are two endings to this story. One happy and one sad. I will post both, but first you’ll have to see whether im putting up the happy or sad one. Read on and see where it goes.

It was a beautiful morning in Pallet Town, as our three hero’s Ash, Misty, and Brock sit down to the table for breakfast. Since Brock had always wanted to do the cooking, no matter the meal, Mrs. Ketchum told him she would do the cooking.

“Smells good Mrs. Ketchum.” Brock praised her cooking, as he sat with his three friends.

“It sure does.” Misty agreed taking scene from the air with her nose.

“What are we eating Mom?” Ash asked her. Delia turned around to meet her son’s loving curious expression.

“I’m making just the usual breakfast: pancakes, toast, bacon, and eggs.” she responded.

“Sounds and smells good to me.” Ash said, getting more hungry by the second.

“Of course, you’re always hungry.” Misty laughed.

“I sure am!” Ash agreed, and laughed with his two friends.(I always notice these lame jokes are in AAML fics, so I decided to try one out)

“Ash got that trait from his father.” his mother turned back around from her cooking, and told his friends.

“Really?” Misty asked, wanting to know more about the guy. But, Delia seeing Ash get upset at the mention of his father, decided not to talk about him.

“Will you excuse me?” Ash asked, and got up from the table and went to find his room.

“Wow! That’s weird, he didn’t even eat yet.” Misty said, surprised and worried at the same time. The food was done, and Delia placed all the food on the table, and decided to go talk to Ash.

“What do you think’s wrong with Ash?” Brock turned to Misty, also concerned about him.

“I don’t know. But it must be something. Ash would never leave without eating something.” Misty said, concerned, but she quickly ignored it and started eating.

Delia knocked on Ash’s closed door, and pushed it open, to find him sitting on his bed, with his head down. “Ash…Honey, are you ok?” she walked over to the bed, and sat next to him.

“I was just remembering my father, and how horrible he was to us.” Ash said, quietly, and sadly.

“Ash, please don’t talk about that…especially when you have company.” his mother told him, and rubbed his back.

“Well he was such an ass hole!” Ash yelled, causing his mother to take her hand off his back. “Ash! Watch your language! Es-”

Ash cut his mother off by finishing what she was going to say. “Especially when you have company! I know, you said the same thing the last time they were here.”

The two were both silent until Ash spoke up again. “But it’s true Mom…he was horrible to us, he beat us both.” Ash broke the silence.

“Well, he didn’t love us.” his mother said, now rubbing his back again. “Can we just forget about this, and go eat breakfast? You’re friends are probably freaked you left without eating.” his mother asked him.

“Yeah, I guess so.” Ash decided that would be the best thing to do. When his mother left the room, he re-collected himself, and woke a sleeping pikachu, who was lying on his pillow. “Wake up Buddy.” he shook him. “Pi?” “Let’s go eat breakfast, I want you to enjoy this beautiful day too.” Ash picked up Pikachu, and carried him into the kitchen.

He walked into the kitchen, and placed Pikachu down on an empty chair. “There you are, we were getting worried about you.” Misty said, as he sat down to the table. Ash immediately dove into his food, and stuffed his face.

The voice of Mr. Mime suddenly came into the room, as he walked into the room, happily singing. “Mime mime, mime mime mime.” Delia noticed Mr. Mime had an envelope in his hands.

“What’s this Mimey? Is this the mail?” “Mime mime!” Mr. Mime nodded.

She took the envelope, and read who would be to receive the letter. “Ash, it’s for you.” she handed an Ash, with bacon sticking out of his mouth, and a fork with eggs impaled on it in his hand.

“For me?” Ash asked. He opened it up, and took the letter out. He read the bold writing to himself…while eating of course…

After reading it, Ash swallowed the remainder of his food, and jumped up with joy. “All right!” he yelled, excited over the contents of the letter.

“What are you so happy about?” Brock asked the hyper Ash Ketchum.

“This letter has information for my next big adventure!” Ash replied, getting more excited by the second.

“Really? Where at?” Misty asked, happy to see him so happy.

“It’s on “Baliston Island, it’s sort of the same thing as The Battle Tower.” Ash glanced through the letter while telling them.

Delia sighed, for her son would sure to be leaving the next day on another crazy poke’mon adventure. “Ash, do you have to leave so soon?”

“Of course I do, once I’m done with “The Baliston Melee”(The name of the series) I’ll be ready to face the Elite Four!” Ash excitedly yelled. “Go get packed guys!”

“Give us some time, some people have to chew their food to eat.” Misty. Then Ash’s happy expression turned the opposite, as he read more details in the letter he didn’t read the first time.

“What’s up Ash?” Brock asked, concerned with what Ash was reading.

“It says here no company will be allowed to accompany me.” he replied, quietly.

“Why not?” Misty asked, hoping it wasn’t true…

“It says that any fans, friends, or family members to tag along would be distracting.” Ash read the letter in front of his eyes.

“What!!!? What kind of a stupid excuse is that!!!?” Misty screamed, yanking the letter from Ash’s grip, and reading it for herself. “That’s crazy! Some horny chick probably wrote this so she could be alone with you!” she screamed more, getting louder with each letter.

Everyone was starring at Misty, very very surprised at her reaction. Misty realized she had said those things out loud, and began blushing. “So…are you gonna go Ash?” Brock asked him, but also disappointed.

“Well, I need to go, even if that means I can’t have my friends along for the ride.” he responded. He wasn’t sure why he said that, he considered his friends just as important as any poke’mon journey. After all, his friends made his journey a real journey.

“But, Ash, it wont be fun without your friends.” his mother told him, not liking the situation one bit.

“I know, but I have to do what I have to do.” he said, also not thrilled with the fact, but knew he couldn’t not go along with it just because a couple of people couldn’t be there. Even though these people are the most important people in the world to him. His stubborn-ness was catching up with him.

That night, Ash began packing for his new adventure, which would start tomorrow. The letter included a boat ticket to cross to the island, and was heading out the next morning. He was in a battle of the decision to go or not, even though he knew he was going. He didn’t want to go alone, but had no choice.

Since Misty found out she would have to be apart from Ash for yet another long time period, she sat on the couch, thinking about things…about Ash. Delia walked into the kitchen to get a glass of water, before going to sleep. She noticed Misty sitting alone on the couch, and decided to go see why.

“Misty, Dear? Are you all right?” Misty exited her thoughts, and looked at a worried Mrs. Ketchum.

“Yeah…I’m sort of all right.” she said coldly.

“Well…that’s sort of not all right.” Delia said, and sat next to Misty.

“I’m just sad I wont be with Ash on his next adventure. I‘ve been with him throughout his journey‘s and to not be there for his next one is killing me.” Misty admitted.

“Now you know how I feel everyday.” Delia told her, looking down to her lap, a smile formed on her lips.

“You have a wonderful son Mrs. Ketchum.” Misty praised her son.

“Not bright, but wonderful!” Misty and Delia both said in unison. The two laughed, both women had very much in common now due to Misty’s strong understanding of Ash.

“Thank you…” Delia told Misty.

“No…thank you…Mrs. Ketchum” Misty thanked Delia.

“Call me Delia.” Misty smiled at her. She got up off the couch and headed for the guest bed room to get some sleep. “I’ve always thought of you as a daughter, Misty.” Delia spoke before Misty could disappear.

“And I’ve always thought of you as a mother.” Misty smiled, before leaving the sight of Delia.

“Some day…some day…maybe I will be your mother…in law.” Delia said very quietly.

The next morning, Ash awoke very early, excited to go on a new journey, and sad to be leaving his friends. He put on his original classic journey clothes, and his backpack from his first adventure. He was superstitious, knowing he’s had a lot more luck wearing that get up. He also packed a pink handkerchief he had received from Misty the day they parted. He gripped it tightly, and folded it up, and put it in one of the side pockets of his pack.

“I’m already to go.” was the first thing Ash said as he walked into the living room. Brock, Pikachu, his mother, and Misty sat on the couch, waiting for him. Pikachu ran over to him, and jumped on his shoulder. “It looks like Pikachu is ready to go.” Brock laughed.

“Yeah, he sure is.” Ash smiled at his friend.

“Ash, your friends are gonna go with you to the dock, and say goodbye to you there.” his mother told him, walked over, and gave him a big hug. He hugged his mother back, just as tight.

“I love you Mom.” he kissed her cheek, and she did the same.

Ash and his friends walked to the dock. No one said a word as the five mile walk quickly came to an end. “Well…this is it…” Ash trailed off.

“Yeah…” Brock nodded. Misty just turned away, and starred out to the sea.

They walked closer to where the boat that would take Ash to Baliston Island rested. “Goodbye Ash…hope I see you soon.” Brock shook his hand, getting a little tear in his eye.

“Bye Brock, my brother, and father.” Ash let go of Brock’s hand, and pulled him into a hug. This made Brock grow a few more tears. He then bit on to his knuckles in his sadness. He then ran off crying. “Why?! Why does he have to go?!” they heard him shout.

Ash and Misty watched as their older friend ran off into the forest. “Oh that Brock. He’s such a showman.” Ash shook his head, with his arms crossed.

“Ash…?” Misty asked, nervously.

“Misty…?” Ash asked back. The two were both silent, not really sure of what to say. Pikachu was playing with a krabby he found on the beach while the awkward moment was taking fold.

“Ash…there’s something I want to tell you before you leave. I can’t stand another possible couple of years keeping this inside me.” Misty started, getting nervous, the butter free‘s were about to rip out of her stomach like an alien.

“…What is it Mist?” Ash asked, looking deep into her eyes, her beautiful ocean eyes. Misty looked back into his eyes, his dark chocolate brown eyes.

“I’ve been keeping this inside me for many, many years now, and I cant bare to keep it in any longer.” she said, dramatically. Ash just watched her, struggling to tell him something. She, without really knowing what she was doing, wrapped him up in a big hug…he hugged her back.

Misty looked up from her hug, and into Ash‘s eyes. “Ash…I love you…” she finally spat out. She was scared now. Ash let go of her, as she expected him to do. He starred into her eyes, her wondering eyes, waiting for his response.

“Misty I-” Ash started, before being interrupted by a trainer “Come on Ash! The boat’s about to take off!”

Ash looked back to the trainer getting ready to board the boat/ship, and then back at Misty. He then pulled her into another embrace. Then he pulled apart from her, and looked into her eyes, and said…

“Thank you…” he then ran over to the beach to pick up Pikachu, and rush him to the boat, leaving a standing, dizzy, and confused Misty.

(To be continued...)

So…that’s the first chapter of the story. There’s more to come. So stay tuned. Let me know what you think please. In the next chapter you’ll find out why Ash said “Thank you” Doe’s he love her? Or not?