~~~

  


~~~~~~


 
~~


 . 

~

	

~~~~

 (Time Elapsed- 3 months later)

 "Ash could you get the hedge clippers from the shed?" Delia called, 
"Mr.Mime, keep watering those flowers."

  "Sure mom," Ash replied, bringing the clippers to his mother, "Here ya go."

  "Let me tell you Ash," She began, wipping her brow with the back of her 
hand, " It has been a great help having you home for this long! Mr.Mime and I 
can't do all the work that needs to be done by ourselves anymore!"

  "I'm glad I can help," He said, hugging his mom around the shoulders,"See 
I'm more useful than you thought I was, huh?" Delia laughed at her sons 
antics. From inside the house the phone rang.

  "Sweetie, could you get that for me?"

 "Sure mom," He answered with his usual reply and fetched the phone, "Hello?"

  "Ash? Hello my boy, it's Proffesor Oak."
  
  "Hey Professor! How are you?"

  "Splendid. But this isnt just a friendly call. I have some news for you."

  "What's that?"

  "Misty is getting married!"

  "...yeah? Oh! Yeah Professor I know. She told me a few months ago when I 
saw her in Cerulean. Did she give me a date then?"

  "Oh, well yes she did. The e-mail says that the wedding will be held July 
24th. Oh wait a minute, thats in three days!"

  "I wish she'd give me a little more time than three days! I have to find a 
wedding gift! And tell Tracey and Brock about the wedding!"

  "Oh dont worry, I took care of that. I forwarded the e-invitation to Brock 
and Tracey already. You don't suppose May will want an invitation too?"

  "Doubt it, she didn't know Misty that well."

  "Alright then, Everything is set and that's all I had to tell you. Have a 
good evening and tell your mother I said hello!"
 
  "Sure thing Professor, bye."

  With that Ash hung up the phone.  He thought for a moment then frantically 
rushed out the door. He pat his back pocket to check for his wallet then 
called out his Pidgeot. 

  "Honey what are you doing?" Delia asked, poking her head around the corner 
of the house to the front yard where her son and his two pokemon stood. 
Pikachu looked back at Delia and shrugged.

  "Misty's wedding is in three days!" He explained, climbing onto his 
pokemons back and Pikachu hopped up with him and held onto his belt, "I'm 
flying to Celadon to get her a wedding gift."

  "Oh I see," His mother smiled sweetly,"You should get them something 
usefull like a toaster oven!"

  "Ok mom," He laughed to himself, "I'll be back by nightfall-hopefully."

  "Bye son, be safe."

   Ash told Pidgeot where their destination was and the bird pokemon took to 
the sky and like a rocket flew in the direction of Celadon.

~~~~

 In two quick hours Ash landed in Celadon. He called back his means of 
transportation and made his way to the large mall in the center of the town.  
The streets were bustling with activity since it was nearly noon.  Upon 
entering the malls main entrance he first went to Bed Bath and Beyond.

  "Practical,usefull" He murmered to himself, "Something she can use." He 
thought for a moment and turned to an employee,"Um, excuse me, can I have 
some help please?"

  "Sure Sir what can I do for you?" A young man, probably his age, came to 
his assistance,"...you look really familiar."

  "Oh, really," Ash grinned. he knew why. He had been on many television 
shows since he had won his latest championship title, "I'm Ash Ketchum, I 
won-"

  "Oh yeah now I remember!" The guy interrupted eagerly, "Man that move with 
your pikachu- INTENSE!"

  "Thanks," He replied. Pikachu poked his head out of Ash's trademark 
backpack at the sound of his name," But anyways, I need your opinion on 
something."

  "Yeah?"

  "My friend is getting married in three days and I have no idea what to get 
her for a wedding present."

  "hmmmm," the employee thought for a moment and looked down the aisle to 
another section of the store, "Have you considered a toaster oven?"

   "Yeah I don't think that's right," Ash shook his head and brushed hair out 
of his face, " I want to get them something practical but unique."

   "Hm...well," The man seemed to list options in his head,"How about a 
practical decoration piece? Like a clock?"

   "Hey thats a good idea!" He grinned and pat the man on the back, "Thanks a 
lot!" He made his way to a wall of clocks and looked up at the large 
assortment. Now he was faced with the predicament of finding the right kind 
of clock. Fortunatly the perfect one quickly caught his eye. Near the top was 
a masonry clock with roman numeral numbers. It had an elaborate goldeen 
painted on its face with brilliant sparkles ordamenting it,"Hey Pikachu, 
check it out." Pikachu looked up and sent Ash an excited zap.

  "Pi pi pi pika!!! (Oh It's perfect!!)"

  "You like it too huh?" He looked around for the clock that had already been 
boxed up and upon finding it rang it up in the front and left the store,"That 
was a lot faster than I thought it would be." Walking by the jewelry store 
something caught his eye. Coming closer his brown eyes grew wide and a smile 
spread across his face, "Excuse me, I'd like to get that please."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~