Title: The Image of Truth

Author: Pika189

Chapter 9: The Legend

Category: AAML

“Ash, are you crazy?!!!!!” Misty shouted. “What if he gets drunk w/ power?!! He’s never felt this kind of power, Ash! He could get obsessed w/ it! And he could hurt himself if he’s not careful!!!”

“I know that! But I trust him! I don’t think he could ever hurt someone unless in self defense!!” Ash argued. “Besides, I’m gonna train him once we get back to Pallet Town, anyway. What could possibly happen?!!”

“Well, I guess nothing. But still, I want you to be careful, Ash! Don’t let him outa your sight!! Kay, Ash?!” Misty replied, revealing a weak smile.

“OK, Mist, I won’t.” Ash replied reassuringly. They then teleported down to the lobby to join the others.

“Hey Ash…” Gary called. “I just wanna thank you for turning me Super Saiyan!” Gary thanked.

“Yeah, my man’s a real cutie now!!!” Aurora replied, giggling.

“You’re welcome, Gary, Aurora.” Ash replied “Hey Gary, once you’ve become stronger, I hope we can pick up where we left off! How ‘bout it???”

“You’re on, Ash!” Gary agreed.

Later that day…

“Come on, Ash! Let’s go another round at F-Zero! I promise I’ll try harder!” Misty begged.

“No Misty! You said that the last 3 times and I still beat you. I don’t feel like beatin’ ya again. Ask Gary!” Ash replied annoyingly. He sucks ass at F-Zero GX. You’ll beat him for sure! Ash told her telepathically.

Kay, Ash! Misty replied w/ an evil, maniacal smirk on her face. “Oh, Gary!” Misty called to Gary in singsong as he was walking in.

“What do you want?!” Gary replied as he came into the room.

“You wanna go a round on F-Zero GX???!!” Misty dared.

“You’re on, Mist!!!” Gary accepted.

“THAT’S IT!!! ONLY ASH IS ALLOWED TO CALL ME THAT!!! YOU ARE GOIN’ DOWN!!!!!!!!!” Misty screamed, turning Super Saiyan in the process.

“HOLY CRAP! You’re a Super Saiyan, too?” Gary asked, shocked.

“That’s right, Gary! And once I beat ya, I’m gonna kick yer ass!!!” Misty cried.

‘Wow, she’s pissed! Gary’s gonna get his ass whooped if he loses to her!!!’ Ash thought.

“I-I think I’ll p-p-pa-pass on the of-offer. B-but thanks anyway.” Gary stuttered.

“What, are you scared to lose to me and get yer ass kicked? By a girl?! You’re a Saiyan now! A Super Saiyan to be exact! I’m sure it won’t hurt that bad!” Misty snickered.

“Come on! You’ve probably been a Super Saiyan for a long time now, and I’ve only just become a Super Saiyan! And I’m not used to this kind of power yet!!” Gary stated. “Plus, I suck big time at all F-Zero games!”

“Fine, be that way! And since u chickened out, I’m gonna go ahead and kick yer ass!!!” Misty squealed.

“OH SHIT!!!” Gary screamed, running for his life. He then remembered he could teleport, so he teleported out of the hotel. Just then, Misty appeared behind him. Gary gulped. He was frozen stiff.

“Gary, I’ve got a present for ya!” Misty said evilly.

“Wh-what is it?” Gary quivered.

“My fucking fist!!!” Misty screamed, and she knocked him right in the face at full force. Gary was barely conscious. “That’s what ya get for calling me by that name! Only Ash can call me that, ya here?!!”

“Y-yes ma’am” Gary replied nervously, trying not to get her even angrier.

“Now this is for being such a jackass!!!!!!!” Misty screamed. She then kicked Gary hard in the stomach. Gary got the wind knocked outa him from the blow. Ash was laughing his head off. Misty then jumped back a few feet, clenched her fists, only w/ her thumbs on the side, and started to charge up pink energy. “GALICK GUN……” Misty yelled, a pink barrier forming around her fists. “……FIRE!!!!!” Misty screamed, firing the energy in a large, pink beam, hitting poor, defenseless Gary full force.

“…Uh, uggghhh…” Gary writhed in pain.

“Ha, ha, ha, ha!!!” Ash and Misty laughed and laughed.

“Hey, it’s not…ugghh…funny!” Gary groaned.

“Yeah, it is Gary!” Ash replied, still laughing. “That’s what you get for fuckin’ w/ Misty! You’ll get you’re ass kicked!”

“I can see that, Mr. I-know-everything!” Gary growled.

“Come on, chill out, Gary. Just don’t insult her again or else I’ll have to step in!” Ash laughed.

“I didn’t insult her! You call her ‘Mist’ all the time and she doesn’t kick your ass!” Gary argued.

“Yeah, but I gave her that nickname, and she doesn’t like anyone to call her that, except for me of course!” Ash retorted.

“Yeah, Gary! You should think before you say anything next time!” Misty agreed.

“Fine, I won’t call you that anymore! Are you satisfied?!” Gary groaned.

“Yeah, I am!” Misty giggled.

That night…

“Hey, Ash! Can I talk to you? Alone?” Misty asked Ash nervously. Brock had gone down to the lobby to watch 1 of the arranged Pokemon Battles that were held there. And Aurora was w/ Gary in his room. So Misty came over to see Ash, who was watching Dragonball Z Movie 8: Broly-The Legendary Super Saiyan on the plasma tv.

“Sure, what is it, Misty?” Ash asked.

“You know how we went out yesterday? Well, I wanted to tell ya that I l-l-lo…I love you! I love you, Ash! And I always have! I just didn’t have the courage to tell you!” Misty stated.

“I love you too, Misty! I loved you ever since I laid eyes on you! That many years ago.” Ash replied.

“You mean it?” Misty asked, giving him a good look-over.

“Yup! I do, Mist!” Ash replied, smiling, putting his arm around her. Misty rested her head on Ash’s shoulders. They just sat there for awhile, Ash smiling the entire time.

After awhile, Misty remembered her gift for Ash. “Oh, I almost forgot! I have a gift for you Ash!” Misty stated suddenly.

“So do I, Misty! But, let’s not exchange gifts until the day after tomorrow.” Ash replied.

“Why?!” Misty lashed out.

“Because of the legend.” Ash replied.

“What legend?!” Misty replied agitatedly.

“The legend of Celio City. Don’t tell me you haven’t heard of the legend of Celio!?” Ash answered, surprised.

“I haven’t! I swear!” Misty retorted. “Could u fill me in?”

“Sure! The legend says that there’s a beautiful city in the middle of a desert called Celio City. There’s said to be a large, sparkling red stone in the shape of a heart at the top of the hill beyond Celio City. The legend states that if 2 lovers exchange gifts at the ‘heart stone’ on the 3^rd day that they’re there, then they’ll love each other more than they ever imagined. But if they are there for 3 days or more and they don’t exchange their gifts on the 3^rd day, they’ll hate each other for life! And there’s said to be a powerful demon that forbids love within the city. And he tries to prevent them from exchanging their gifts at the stone on the 3^rd day. That about sums it up. There’s 1 catch: they have to like their gifts, or else they will hate each other.” Ash explained.

“Oh, ok! Just how strong is this demon supposed to be?” Misty asked.

“We could barely stand up to it!” Ash replied, staring at the floor. “But don’t worry, if the demon is real, we can defeat it if we work together! The legend also says that if we end up exchanging gifts, then the demon will be sent to a dimension of destruction! And the people will be free for a thousand years!”

“That’s awesome, Ash!” Misty replied, smiling lightly.

“Guys, you’ve gotta come see this!” Brock called from the other side of the door.

“We’re comin’, Brock!” Ash replied, rushing to the door. Misty followed.

Meanwhile, about a mile away from Celio…

“These 2 seem different somehow, stronger! They could be trouble. I’ll have to destroy them! Before they can seal me in that hell of a dimension!” A dark demonic warrior said to himself. He teleported, his target: Celio City.

A/N: What’d y’all think??? Please R&R! Sorry it took so long.