Chapter 3: The Masters Ball Recap: "Hey Misty, uh," he began to speak awkwardly, "can I um talk to you for a sec?". "Sure Ash" was her reply, "what about?". "Ok I have to tell you something important so I'm just gonna come out and say it. We both know that we're really close friends right and uh.... what I had wanted to tell you was that...", he deeply sighed. Why did it have to be so hard? What was it about about Misty that made him this way? "Ash? What is it?" "Oh uh.... ok. Misty I'm......in.......lo......" "You're in what Ash?" " I'm in lo-....I- love y-" Just then, Brock had burst through the door looking very excited. "Ash Misty, you gotta see this", was all he left them before he ran out the door once more. "We'll finish this later ok?" asked Misty. Disappointingly Ash just noted "fine". They both went outside only to see Brock waiting for them. He led them to a huge crowd in front a small yet settle stage. A round man with balding slightly at the top of his head dressed in a simple suit which made him look like something out of a circus, was yelling at the top of his lungs, "HERE YE!! HERE YE!! I mayor of Joy City would like to announce that the Lugia Hall will be renewed and opened once more for the 13th annual MASTER'S BALL!!!". Brock Ash and Misty looked a bit confused. "Whats the master's ball?" Ash asked Brock. "I don't know" was his reply, "it cant be new cause its the 13th". Misty looked around and saw that the expressions on these people's faces were filled with amazement as the mayor continued to tell everyone about it. In Misty's rear eye view she caught 3 people, two women and a man looking just about the age of or maybe a bit older than Ash's mom. Yet these 3 people looked as thought they weren't too thrilled about the whole ball thing at all. She had to know if they knew about it. Misty walked over to them and politely as she could asked them "excuse me," they looked at her, "do you know whats going on here?". One of the women with very dark red hair and deep green eyes with only some yet just noticeable freckles responded with a sad tone to her voice, "yes". "As a matter of fact we do. Tis the great annual ball is coming to the city. Oh how wonderful...." Misty looked even more confused "well is there something wrong with that?". "No there's nothing wrong with it. Its just one of those.....dance things in which great Pokemon masters are invited to go and celebrate their victories. Its just a plain waste of time." "Oh... well my name is Misty from Cerulean City. "I'm Rebbecca. These are my friends Jake and Kelly". Jake was a fine man indeed. He had a very fair toned face with bright red hair which was well tamed turned and smiled at Misty. His actions were followed by another smile which came from Kelly. Kelly was slightly taller than Rebbecca yet not as tall as Jake. "Its nice to meet you", Misty had heard Jake say. "Oh, its nice to meet you too. Why don't you meet two of my friends.", she then called Ash and Brock over and greeted them to Rebbecca Jake and Kelly. Ash Misty Brock got to know Rebbecca Jake and Kelly better with time of talking in a small dinner. Misty had to break the ice. She was tired of keeping quite. She wanted to know why they weren't as excited about the Master's Ball as the rest of the city. "Ok" she began, "why aren't you guys excited about the Master's Ball? It looks like a lot of fun doesn't it?". "Well" stated Jake, "it was about 23 years ago when the 12th Ball took place. There was an........ incident that occurred and....." "Yea?" said Ash, "what happened?". Rebeca felt as if she had to finish the story, so she did. "All the people that were invited were all dressed up. Jake was seeing Kelly at the time so he took her and our old friend Brandon took me to the ball. Everything was going really great that night and Brandon had just asked me out on a date. We shared a simple kiss until a very strong wind began to blow. It felt like 10 or 20 pigeots were all doing gust attack at the same time. We broke apart to see this monstrous ship came about and this so-called 'team thunder' came out of the ship and demanded all of our Pokemon." "Of course no one gave them up so they went by force. An ampharose rose from the ship for only an OVER SIZED Stelix to rise from behind it and gave a very loud roar. Then Ampharos gave a thunder attack hitting its tail and their attacks backfired to the ground. Everyone was hit and I'm guessing that was their plan to use as a diversion to get our Pokemon. Brandon was the only one of course to go and stop this team thunder but..... he failed to do so.." "So what happened?'' asked Ash, "was he ok?". Rebbecca stated again "well....no". "The Ampharos made another attack and the ground just couldn't bare that one. It split the ground in two. Brandon was just too close to it and it looked as thought he fell between it. Jake ran to him and grabbed his hand and tried to pull him up.....but..... he slipped from Jake's hand and... we never saw him again". Ash Misty and Brock felt so bad. "Oh" started Ash, "I am so sorry". "Its ok" said Jake, "of course that was a long time ago, 23 years to be exact, but of course we all miss him". Misty then asked Rebbecca "so thats why you guys aren't the biggest fans of this Master's Ball?". "Well yes" answered Kelly. Even with this terrible upset, Ash couldn't stop thinking about his almost confession to Misty. Why did this news have to happen right before he told Misty. Why couldn't it be right after he told her? Hoping there would be another chance, the day came and went and night came withing hours that felt like minutes. To him it has been so long that he has felt like this. The feeling a love for a person that has never let him down. No, it was more than just loving. He was in love with her and he had known it. Just before he fell asleep that night, he was thinking, no he was praying that there would be a time to tell her. To express his true feelings. Ash did hope that that time would come and it was the last thing on his mind before it drifted into a dream land. Well, until then he guessed....... **Reviews plz** ^_^