Timeline: 2 days

Disclaimer; I don’t own pokemon, it belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by me so I own it.

Clueless97 – don’t worry, I’ve got more fics with Misty-bashing on my website! Check it out! *chuckles*

Link Masters – k!

Pichu*Star – I see. ^-^ I hope you update Bound to the Dragon’s Heart soon

Daisuke – k, k, and I have lots more championshipping stories too!

Aoimizuhoshi – hi! I know, I hate Misty with a passion. *laughs* In fact, my first fic ever written was titled ‘The End of Misty’.

Chapter 10: Champion

Ash stared in disbelief as Lance’s Dragonite collapsed.

“Very good… you are now pokemon league Champion.” Lance told the boy warmly, as he healed his Dragonite.

Ash threw his arms around Lance in a hug; secretly glad his matches were not being filmed. Who knew what the trashy media might pass a perfectly innocent gesture off as?

“There are always ways, you just have to look for them.” Lance told him, after the inauguration ceremony.

“But you were my way.” Ash said softly. “Without Lugia…”

“Perhaps, who knows?” Lance shrugged elegantly. “The past is past, the future waits.”

“It’s so hard to think that sometimes.”

“Isn’t it? A lot of the time, the shackles of the past will bind you against your will.” Lance stared off into the distance, soft golden eyes unfocused.

“I see…”

And, truth be told… he did know.

But now, it was past… but what would happen to Misty? If only she would wake up! Then, he would have his answers.

That was the last step in moving past and healing.

Why did it have to be so hard though?
“I still owe it all to you, Lance.” Ash confessed. “So, want to take me up on that offer I made you… that night?”
Lance coughed. “Ash… you don’t have to do that. And I’d rather not have your love bought and paid for.”

Ash froze.

“Lance… did you say what I thought you said?”
Lance mentally whacked himself again. * Kuso! Why did you blurt that out! *

“Nani?”

“Oh! I thought…” A faint blush blossomed on Ash’s cheeks. * No, you must have misheard. Yes! Besides, he wasn’t giving you money for free or anything. Stop that overactive imagination now! *

“Why even bring that up? Put it behind you.” Lance advised.

“H-hai…” Ash said, as the trainer handed him a glass of lemonade.

“You must be tired after that battle.”
“Arigato.” Ash said, taking the drink. * Never mind, nothing happened… yes! I’m just being too high-strung. Winning has gone to my head. *

His pokemon happily gamboled in the gardens inside the plateau.

It was nice, in a nice way.

If only Misty would get better? But you couldn’t have everything. Right?

Seven point three days later…

The doctors in Indigo Memorial Hospital were startled when one Misty Waterflower came out of her coma suddenly.

But she was quickly clean, and left the hospital.

No lasting side effects, their tests had determined that already.

Misty growled. * Where did that little pest go? Ash, I’m going to kill you! How dare you leave! *

She immediately began searching. Coming across a newspaper stand, she found the headlines.

“YOUNGEST LEAGUE CHAMPION IN HISTORY!” The banner proclaimed.

A picture of Ash beaming brightly, standing next to the Elite Four, with Lorelei holding his hand in congratulations and Lance putting bunny ears on his head, unfurled itself.

Misty glared at the picture, feeling hatred well up inside her.

“So that brat decided to flirt with Lorelei, huh? What happened to paying my bike back! Well, I’ll make him see the error of his ways!”

Grabbing her poke belt, Misty stomped off to Indigo. Being a gym leader, she was admitted.

She ran down the halls, steam pouring from her ears, until she found him.

Ash was having tea with Lorelei and Agatha when Misty burst in and dealt him a slap across the face.

“You little brat! What are you doing here instead of earning more money to pay my bike back!? Decided to leave me for dead, huh? You ungrateful-!”

Ash looked startled, hidden fear flickering back to life abruptly in his eyes as he backed away.

Misty continued to yell at him, vile epiphanies running through the air.

Lorelei and Agatha quickly recovered from the shock as Agatha’s Gengar restrained Misty.

“What are you doing here, Ms. Waterflower? And without an appointment?” Lorelei asked.

“Not to mention beating up our league champion for no reason.” Agatha added. < State your reasons now. >

“He still owes me a bike!”

< Yes, you claim. I checked Lance’s calculations. That ‘bike’ cost a mere one hundred and eighty dollars, and you have already spent nearly twenty thousand dollars of Ash’s money in hospital fees and panhandling. He is the one who paid for your stay at the best hospital in Kanto, ungrateful girl that you are. >

“Oh?” Lorelei asked. “And this girl claims to be a water master? What an insult to the name of all masters!”

Ash peeked out from behind a potted plant. * So Lance wasn’t lying… *

Agatha certainly had no reason to lie to him, neither did Lorelei.

That admission shattered the last restraints on his slowly growing anger at the way he had been treated.

“Shut up!” Misty yelled. “I’m taking Ash back with me!”

“I don’t think so.’ Ash said, standing up, fear melting into rage. “Pikachu! You were right.”

Pikachu sparked his cheeks. It’s payback time…

“I’m not going to sink to your level.” Ash said. “But, I’m sure the four will agree with me, that a suitable punishment would be to strip you of your gym leader position.’

Agatha and Lorelei nodded.

“And Lance suggested it, so I know he agrees…”

“Misty Waterflower.” Agatha proclaimed. “You are henceforth no longer a Gym Leader of Kanto. Surrender your badge now.”

In shock herself, Misty handed over the badge.

Her mouth formed a wordless denial, but it was true.

Past sins do catch up with you…

End Chapter

Created and completed 3/24/04