Title: Mist
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: AAMRN/Pokeshipping (Ash x Misty)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #28, Mist
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Warnings: AU, het

He stumbled forwards, trying to see, wanting to see, but the mist was everywhere, wispy white hiding the terrain from his sight. He stumbled more than once, but continued to press on, heedless of the dangers lurking within.

“Poor little Champion…” A voice hissed. “What are you searching for?”

Ash jumped back, seeing an old woman dressed in ragged orange, sitting on a stump not too far from the road. The path was barely visible, but he made his way towards her. The fog was a bit clearer there.

“I…I don’t know.”

“Then you will never leave this place.” She said wisely.

“Why not?” Ash asked, confused. He knew his direction skill was not the best, but…

“Do you know why you are here?” The old crone asked, still not looking directly at him. She was probably blind, Ash thought, except being around her sent a chill up his spine. “Mount Silver used to be a testing ground for Champions, years and years before the League rose… and only those who have something worth going back for, something to lose, can become the true Champions…”

“But I’m already a Champion!” Ash protested, thinking of his Orange League trophy and the array of badges at home.

“So you say…”

Ash waited for her to say more, but she was silent. Finally, he mustered his courage enough to ask another question. “Do you know the way out of here then?”

There was no answer for a long time, and he wondered if she had fallen asleep. Finally, she gave him an answer.

“Search your heart.”

And that was all she would say.

Ash released his pokémon to help him, wishing that he had gotten that new HM off in Shinou, Fog Clear or something… Pikachu perched on his shoulder with a puzzled look while Espeon flicked his tails in irritation. Charizard huffed and took to the air, but moments later, he returned, looking confused.

“What’s wrong?”

It is like the landscape is continuously changing…

“Maybe we walked into a psychic attack, like Confusion or Hypnosis.” Ash said. “Espeon, could you check?”

The lilac eevelution nodded, eyes closed as he scanned. Finally, he shook his head.

It doesn’t feel like anything strange…

Ash frowned, and said nothing. His heart…

What if that crazy old woman was right?

But his heart was fine, wasn’t it? He would marry Misty soon, and be happy, and… and…

And forget about anyone else!

The fog instantly cleared, and Ash blinked. What? That was all?

He heard a whisper for a second, something about being happy, but he ignored it as he raced down the mountain and found his true love waiting.

End Fic

Completed 2/28/07

Oh. I wrote AAMRN. *Goes to find cliff*