Just Look At You Girl By: Zapdos1Alpha Zapdos1alpha@hotmail.com AAMRN Hey all, this is my first attempt at a song fic. This is song is special to my wife and I. Thought it would work here. Disclaimer: I do not own anything at all. All Characters, Songs, and Lyrics are owned and copyrighted by their respected companies and owners To understand this story I urge you to listen to the song Look At You Girl by Chris LeDoux. Unlike my other stories ash, misty and the rest are the same ages as on the show. I haven't watched Pokemon in a long time so please forgive me for any errors and discrepancies. And last this story is a tribute. In March of this year, the country music world lost a prominent member. Chris LeDoux passed away due to complications to a rare type of cancer. He is missed by many thousands, and by this writer as well. I have met him after a concert in Arizona several years ago. I hope this story shows the way I knew him for that short time. ~ ~ ~ ~ Oldale Town, Hoenn Region "Hey ash what are you listening too?" Misty asked as she plopped down on the couch across from ash. Hearing her ash picked up the CD case and tossed it to her. Looking the case over she posed her next questions. "Who is Chris LeDoux? Is he any good? What does he sing?" Ash knew he would not hear the end of it until he explained so he turned off his discman and sat up to face misty. "Chris LeDoux is a country singer. But not so much country as country rock & roll. Obviously very popular here since there was an extremely limited rock/pop selection and a huge country selection." He explained. "It's actually quite good. I didn't think I would like country music but this is good." "I see. I didn't think you knew a lot about music ash," Misty joked. "since you have only listened to three bands over our travels." "Gee's thanks misty" ash said in a hurt tone. "I do like other music too just haven't been able to buy any new CD's until recently. This one was given to me by the pokemart owner. They were giving away CD's because he is coming into town next month. I was listening to the disc to see if he was any good." "Why was that ash?" Misty asked with a sparkle in her eyes. "No reason." Ash replied quickly. "Okay Ash." Misty replied. "Well it's getting late and I'm heading off to bed." "No problem misty. I'll drag Brock up there in a while, he's on the phone to Melanie" Ash commented and returned to the music and his thoughts. ~ ~ ~ ~ Just look at you girl Standing here beside me Starlight on your hair Looking like a dream I dreamed somewhere 'Man if misty only knew how much I loved her. If I could only get the courage to tell her, our fights would end. It's hard but some way I have to let her know. She chose me over Rudy in the Orange Islands. Tracey can verify that. Brock knows how I feel about her. She has always been there for me, cheering me on, supporting me while I battled and trained, she saved my life in the Orange Islands. I know she cares for me. I saw it the first day when she fished pikachu and me out of the river. She truly was looking like a dream I once had.' And look at me girl You got me acting just like a lover In an old time picture show And how I got the part I just don't know But its written all across your face Plain as it can be You're the one that I was looking for Now you're all that I can see 'Well that part of this song pretty much sums up how I feel for her. I'd do anything to keep her with me. Anything at all.' You mean everything to me And I'd do anything to have you stay forever I'm an ordinary man But I feel like I could do anything in the world When I look at you girl 'He, he, he that is exactly how all our adventures are. I'm nothing more than an ordinary kid, but she ignites something in me that makes me feel like I'm the strongest man in the world. The chosen one prophecy, I couldn't have fulfilled that with out her support and help. She made me feel like I could do it. That I would succeed.' Just look at you girl Walking here beside me Misty morning light I see my own reflection in your eyes And just smile at me girl With eyes that tell a story That words can never say Telling me your love is gonna stay And we're standing right together now In everything we do And if my world should come apart I'll still be loving you 'That describes most of the mornings when we camp out. I see so much in her eyes. She knows that I can see it. It worries her so she looks away. I need to get her told how I feel. But how?' You mean everything to me And I'd do anything to have you stay forever I'm an ordinary man But I feel like I could do anything in the world When I look at you girl ~ ~ ~ ~ Ash continued to think as the CD player stopped. Brock had finished his call and went to get ash since it was time for Nurse Joy to close up the center for the night. Brock looked down on to his long time friend and saw a glimmer of a tear at the corners of his eyes and this worried him. "Ash, buddy are you okay?" Brock asked. "I'm fine." Ash replied. "Why do you ask?" "Looks like you were on the verge of crying." Brock implied as ash wiped the tear traces away. "Care to talk about it?" "Actually, I would. But you need to listen to this first." Ash said and he queued up the song and handed the headphones to Brock. Brock listened intently as Nurse Joy came over. "Boys, the doors are locked. I can trust that you will turn out the lights when you're done?" She asked "Certainly Nurse Joy. It is no problem." Ash replied. Nurse Joy turned around and headed for her apartment at the back of the pokemon center. "Wow ash. That song is really good." Brock said "I know. It completely frames all that good between me and misty perfectly. It fits everything. Including how I feel for her." Ash said "But the problem is how to tell her." Brock replied. "Right?" "Right brocko." Ash said a little dejectedly. "What if I said I know someone who knows that artist personally and can get front row tickets and back stage passes to the concert?" Brock hinted with a twinkle in his eye. "No way Brock. I wouldn't believe it." Ash commented. "I do but we need to get to get out of here and to the next city. We need to be there by night fall tomorrow." Brock Said. "Brock if you do what I think your hinting to, you will not know how grateful I would be." Ash said "Then lets turn in. Because it's an eight hour walk and we would need to start early." Brock said as they got up and went to bed. Ash unfortunately couldn't sleep well that night. His mind kept drifting to thoughts of misty and finally telling her how he felt. But sleep he did, soundly enough he didn't hear the alarm clock go off. "Staryu, bubble ash awake for us please?" Misty asked of her trusty pokemon "Hyah." It replied and used bubble on Ash, the water did the trick and woke him up. "Good job staryu, return." Misty said "Why did you..." Ash started to ask. "We need to leave Ash." Brock replied hearing this it triggered the memory of last nights conversation and ash jumped out of bed and was ready far quicker than misty had ever seen. "Lets get something to eat." Misty suggested. "If it is to go." Ash replied. "We really need to get to the next city." And ash headed out the door. "Brock, Ash is acting really strange this morning." Misty said with a very concerned tone. "You two have talked a lot over the last couple of days. Do you know what's going on?" "Nope. But we better catch up to ash before he leaves us behind." Brock replied and headed out the door. Misty trailed behind soon after. Most of that day was spent hiking very quickly. Ash only stopped once before lunch for a quick break at a stream before pushing on. There were no fights, which struck misty as very strange. This bothered her. "Ash is anything wrong? Why are we hurrying to the next town?" "Just want to get there. I heard the gym leader only accepts battles at night." Ash replied smoothly. "Then wouldn't it be good for us to stop and rest a while and pick it up in a few hours?" Misty asked? "Nope, cause I also heard that the pokemon center only accepts people for rooms up to 4 pm. After that it's the local hotel. We don't have the cash currently for hotel rooms." Ash said. "Brock how much further?" "According to the map we are almost there. A couple of more hours." He said. "Good, we can stop for a little bit then." Ash said finally sitting down. Ash looked to Brock with a look that said he need to talk. "Ash I'm making my famous no chew stew. Can you help me gather some firewood?" Brock asked and headed into the forest. "Sure Brock." Ash replied. "Pikachu can you stay here and keep misty safe?" "Pi pikapi" it replied and scampered off ash's shoulder as he too disappeared into the woods. Misty looked on a little saddened. This was not a normal day and it was bothering her badly. "What is going on Pikachu?" She asked with watery eyes. "It feels like I have done something so totally wrong, but I can't figure it out." "Pi pikapi pichu pika pikacupi" It replied and hugged misty. "Thank you pikachu." She said and sobbed softly. ~ ~ In the Forest ~ ~ "What's up ash?" Brock asked. "You haven't talked to misty all day. Hell you two haven't even fought." "I know. I've been so focused on getting to the next town and what I want to get done for misty that I haven't thought about talking. Just breathing and walking." Ash responded. "That's all well and good. But she is getting to be upset. And the answers you gave her, while good ones, wasn't enough. Didn't you see her face?" Brock replied a bit angrily "No." ash replied a bit uneasy. "I think she is feeling like she has done something wrong." Brock said. "Oh." Ash said. "I had no idea that was happening. I need to apologize." "You can in a few minutes. We have enough wood and need to get back." Brock said and with that the turned back toward their temporary camp. ~ ~ ~ ~ Back in camp... "Misty we're back?" ash said as they rounded a boulder at the edge of the forest "Hi guys" She said while sniffling. "So Brock when is lunch going to be ready?" "About twenty minutes." He replied. "Are you okay misty?" "Yeah I'll be fine." She said and walked over to the stream. Brock looked at ash and ash quickly dropped the wood he was carrying and walked over to her. "Misty are you okay?" Ash asked again "Yeah." She replied and dried her eyes a bit. "No you're not. You've been crying" Ash said softly from behind her. "Misty if I in any have caused this I'm sorry. I've been focused on getting to the next town. If you are feeling like you have done something wrong, please don't. Because you haven't." "Oh ash." She said as she bounded up and wrapped ash into a hug. "I was so afraid I had done something wrong to you to make you not want to talk to me." "Its okay misty." He said and hugged her back. Suddenly misty pulled away and was blushing furiously. "We should head back ash." She said softly. "Yeah I guess we should" He replied a bit dazed. They walked back to camp together. "I was about to call you two. Lunch is ready" Brock said "Thank you Brock." Misty said and sat down with her bowl. "Thanks Brock." Ash also said ash he dug into his food. "I didn't realize how hungry I was." "Ash your always hungry." Mist replied. "Come to think about it, yes I am." Ash said completely diverting the forming argument. Misty on the other hand just laughed and the group ate on in peace. A little while later the group was back on the road, focused on reaching the next town before dark. The sun was starting to get low in the sky when the first few buildings of the city came into view. Excitedly the three ran the last couple of miles to the Pokemon Center. "Whew we made it." Ash said in a very weary voice. "Yeah, I know." Misty replied. "But why did we have to hurry?" "I have something that needs to get done Misty. I can't tell you what it is. But it is important to me." Brock replied. "Oh that's cool Brock." Misty responded. "I let ash know but I should have told you too. I completely forgot to tell you." He said sheepishly. "Brock its okay. Go get done what you need to." She said back. Brock smiled to them both, nodded and left.It was getting late so ash and misty retired to bed. The next morning Brocks bed was not slept in. This worried misty so she went to the front desk and there was a message waiting for her and ash. ~ ~ ~ ~ Ash & Misty, My errand is taking longer than I anticipated. I'm going to be a couple of more days. The first Gym of the Advanced League is in Rustboro City. You may be able to make it there in a few days. But I feel that you two should have a good time and relax. I'll be back as soon as possible. Your friend and bud, Brock ~ ~ ~ ~ Misty took the message up to ash and let him read it. "So brocks not going to be back for a couple of days." He commented "Looks that way." Misty replied "It sounds like we are alone for a while. We can head to Rustboro if you want to ash." Any time with you alone is okay in my book. "Nah. I think we should stay put and enjoy a few days off the road. Besides getting into a few team battles around here will help me perfect the pikachu/mudkip teamwork. Get them working better together." He said as he sat down on the couch, and grinned to misty who returned it in kind and joined him. Over the day ash battled quite heavily. By the end of the day he had perfected the pikachu/mudkip team, with out mudkip getting hit with residual electricity and fainting as well. Ash also earned a lot of money in the battles. Enough to put quite a lot away for traveling, but left a lot for recreation. He decided that he was going to take misty out on the town. It was something that wasn't done often but he did enjoy it immensely when he did. Ash just walked back in to the pokemon center when he saw misty sitting there reading a book. "Hey mist," ash asked as he came up to the couch "care to eat a good meal tonight?" "Sure Ash I'd love to." She replied in kind. "Great I'll meat you back down here at eight o'clock." He said and walked back out of the pokemon center leaving and stunned misty behind. She just shook her head and started up the stairs lost in her own thoughts. What has gotten in to ash lately? We haven't fought. He has been a complete gentleman. He even dodged out of the fight that was starting the other day in the forest. I honestly don't know what is going on with him. It's definitely not like him at all, but I sure do like it. Ash had just walked out of the dry cleaners and stopped to look at some flowers when his pokegear rang. "Ash here." He said briskly in greeting. "Ash its Brock. How is it going?" Brock replied. "It's going good, Brock. We now have a very full bank account and I'm taking misty out for dinner tonight. How goes your search?" "Very, very well." Brock replied back happily. "In fact so well as to have front row center seats, backstage passes for myself, misty and you. I also had another idea. I had an older recording of you singing and played it for Chris. He stated that he would be honored to do a duet of Look At You Girl, with you. He also said its not often you hear a voice from a kid. In fact the only other one he has really heard has been Billy Gilman." "No way Brock. I just don't believe it." Ash replied back in shock "Well believe it." Brock continued chuckling a little. "All you have to do is practice hard for the next month to memorize the song and words, and of course say yes." It took but a moment for ash to make up his mind. It was now or never. "Sure, why not." Ash replied smiling. "Glad to hear that ash." A strange voice replied. Ash could hear brocks laughter in the background. "Ash meet Chris LeDoux." Brock said calmly. Ash replied in a state of semi- shock. "Pleasure the meet you Mr.." Ash never got a chance to finish. "Not mister. Never mister only Chris, okay." Chris said. "I need to see you in Rustboro a week before the concert. We need to practice together so that you are comfortable being on a stage with people listening to you. Plus we need to work together for a short time so that I know what to expect. We also have to get mike levels set for you." "You bet I will." Ash replied excitedly. "Can you send the rest of the details with Brock?" "I sure will. You have a good night ash." Chris responded back. "Night Ash." Brock chorused along Night guys. I'll see you soon Brock. Bye." Ash said then hung up the pokegear with a very happy attitude. Noticing the time ash hurried back to the pokemon center to get ready. Ash busied himself with getting ready. To his surprise he was ready almost a full ten minutes before he was to meet misty for dinner. He checked himself again in the mirror and thought he looked pretty good. He gathered up pikachu and togepi and headed out the door. "Well guys what do you think?" He asked of the pokemon "CA Chu!" Pikachu exclaimed and gave ash a thumbs up. "Prrriiii!" Togepi mimicked pikachu. "Thanks guys." Ash said as they came to the pokemon centers from desk. "Nurse Joy, can I leave pikachu and togepi here with you tonight?" "You certainly can ash." She replied with a smile, noting how ash was dressed. "Thanks. I'm hoping that our friend Brock will be back tonight sometime. If he arrives back before we do will you let him get these guys from you?" Ash responded. "No problem ash. Have fun tonight." She replied and took pikachu and togepi in to the back and the pokemon playroom. Ash was just sitting down to wait for misty when she stepped up behind him. "Ash I'm ready." She said softly. Ash turned around and was confronted with a vision of beauty. "Misty you look great." He replied to her and placed the corsage on her wrist. Misty giggled slightly and smiled back. "You do too ash." She said as she confirmed her own thoughts. "Shall we go?" "Yes we shall." Ash offered her his arm as they headed out the door. As they left a soft sigh could be heard from the counter of the center. Nurse joy was standing there watching them. 'Young Love' she said to herself and continued with her work. Not long after ash and misty left Brock returned to the pokemon center. "Oh Brock. Welcome back. Your friends are not here. They left and gone out to dinner." Nurse Joy said to him when she noticed him standing at the counter. "They wanted you to collect Pikachu and Togepi." "Thanks Nurse Joy." Brock replied as he took pikachu and togepi. "Were they dressed normal or fancy?" "Fancy." She replied with a smile. "Well I'll wait upstairs. They may be a while." He said and turned to leave. "Your welcome" Nurse Joy replied and went back to her work. 'Man ash must be feeling brave' Brock thought to himself. 'To take misty out on the town like that on the spur of the moment and not ask me to come along. He he, I thought there was something funny going on when I was on the phone with him earlier. I'm glad that Melanie knows Chris, and that she happened to be here for the concert coming up. Looks like the fates have finally decided to get those two together.' It was nearly midnight when ash returned to his and brocks room. "Have a good night tonight ash?" Brock asked sarcastically before the lights went on. Ash retaliated quickly. "Pikachu, thunder shock" Ash ordered. "No wait." Brock pleaded but it was no use as the sparks flew. "Oww." Brock said when it was over. "Brock?" Ash asked. "Yeah." He replied slowly sitting up and brushing the cinders out of his hair. "Brock I'm so sorry." Ash replied sincerely. "Pikachu." Pikachu replied the same way. "It's okay. Everything is set and we need to be in Rustboro on December 17th for practice. That is a week before the concert." Brock replied "A Christmas concert." Ash said with a look of dawning concern. "Yep. Which means." Brock began but ash finished "Which means there will be a lot of people there." Brock only nodded. "Fun." Ash replied as they turned in to bed. The next morning ash and company set out for Rustboro. Ash had learned that the gym in Petalburg only accepted those trainers whom have proven themselves by obtaining at least four of the other gym badges first. This discouraged ash a little but he took solace in the fact that he was finally doing something about the feelings he harbored for misty. Brock informed them that the trip would take a little more than a week. To ash that meant they would be in Rustboro with little less than two weeks before the 17th of December. That weighed heavily on ash's mind. How was he going to keep misty from finding out before the concert? He decided he would cross that bridge when it came. During the travel ash listened to and mouthed the lyrics to the songs. He was glad he stocked up on batteries before leaving Petalburg, because he was going through a couple of sets a day. Little time was spent with the cd player not playing in his ears. Ash, Misty and Brock were a couple of days out of Rustboro when they stopped for the night. After making the initial camp ash took off into the woods to gather fire wood. He had his cd player on his hip and it was playing. Once out of sight misty turned to brock. "Brock, What's up with ash? She asked softly. "What's that misty?" Brock replied still prepping for dinner. "What's up with ash?" She asked a bit more loudly and with deep concern in her voice. Brock knew this was coming for the last couple of days. He was hoping she wouldn't ask. But she had. He shook his head a little and made a decision. "I know what is going on." He replied honestly and misty could see that. "But I can't tell you what he is doing. It's up to ash to tell you." Misty looked at brock with a suspicious and hurt look. This tore at brock badly. He thought of Misty as a little sister. He thought of ash as a little brother, and was glad that they liked each other. It was because of this that he answered. "Misty what ash is doing, is all for you. Now other than that I can't tell you any more. And I wouldn't ask him about it either." Brock responded softly. "He wants it to be a surprise for you. So please be understanding and supportive. I know its hard on you, Its hard on me too." "I had no idea that it all concerned me." She said in a shocked voice. "Please keep it that way." Brock replied and turned back to preparing dinner. Ash chose that moment to come out of the woods arms loaded down with wood and bulbasaur hauling more behind. He called back bulbasaur, dropped off his cd player and turned back to the woods. "Heading back for more wood?" Misty asked softly. "Yeah." Ash replied. "Care for some help?" she asked innocently, but brock picked up the undertone and stared at her. "Sure." Ash said not picking up on the exchange. Misty hurried to his side and they disappeared into the woods with brock glaring after her. "Dinner will be ready in about an hour." He called after them. 'If she messes this up' brock thought to himself. A short time later they were alone in the woods. Nothing was said, but an uneasy tension was building. Misty took the gumption to break the silence. "Ash, may I ask you a question." Misty said softly. There was a long pause before ash answered her. "Sure, Mist." "What have you been doing with your cd player?" She asked of him. "You have never listened to it as much as you have lately." Ash shook his head. He had come to the bridge and now it was time to cross it. 'But how to tell her without giving away the entire secret.' He thought to himself. And he came to the decision to just be honest. "Well misty, to be honest I'm working on something that concerns you. I wasn't it to be a surprise for you, but you already know something is going on but you don't know what. I want to keep it that way. All I hope is that you'll like it in the end. Until that point I'm going to ask you to forgive me and be patient with the things that I do for a while." "I can do both for you ash." Misty replied with tears forming at her eyes. "I thought there was something wrong with me or that I had pissed you off somehow." "Nothing of the sort." Ash responded a little perturbed. "Misty if you had pissed me off, I wouldn't have stuck around. I would have left you and brock, and not come back. Nor would have asked you out to dinner the other night, or spent the rest of the night with you watching movies." "Ash I'm sorry I ever thought.." she started to reply. "forget about it. It's all right" He said quickly. "We have enough wood for the night. Lets get back to camp." Misty nodded and they started the trip back to camp. Just as they came to the edge of the forest they could hear brock calling out to them that dinner was done. Ash and Misty came out of the forest just as he finished yelling. They smiled at him and deposited the wood that they had gathered by the fire. It was a fun filled night for them with laughter and jokes. Shortly after misty turned in ash helped brock finish cleaning up, changed the batteries in his discman and decided to take a walk. Brock hhad turned in and was snoring soundly. He stopped and checked the fire then on misty. He smiled to himself and headed on for his walk. Ash walked for a while and came upon a small pond which opened up to the star filled sky. No one but pikachu and brock had any inclination as to the seriousness of what he was doing. If misty didn't like what was going to happen, of if she laughed at him while on stage, ash didn't know what he would do. He did know that it would be devastating. But he was committed to this and he was going to see it through to the end. Unknown to ash a dark figure had found themselves watching from the forest. The figure was upwind of them and pikachu hadn't heard anything. The figure did nothing but watch and listen. Ash had started to practice again. First by gently singing the song with the music. Then he decided it was time to be bold. He reached down to his side and turned off the discman, cleared his throat and started to sing loudly. He sang the song through many times and each time it sounded very good. Ash actually had a very good singing voice, even if his normal voice didn't sound crisp and clear. It was ash's secret that only pikachu knew about. The figure moved quickly and disappeared. "Pika?" Pikachu said softly peering around ash into the woods, ears twitching slightly. "What is it pikachu?" Ash asked. "Ka chu?" he replied shrugging his little shoulders. "Don't know either. Probably just a pokemon." Ash responded. "Lets head back to camp." A few minutes later ash saw the camp coming into view. Misty had just climbed back into her sleeping bag only moments before. Her breath was ragged from her run back and worked hard to calm it. She managed to calm her breathing as ash came into camp. She rolled over lazily to make it look like she was still sound asleep. Misty felt the fire come back up and the heat them fade as a shadow crossed over her. It was ash checking up on her. "Asleep" he said softly to himself. "only a few more days then you'll know what all the fuss and trouble is about." He gently patted her bare shoulder. She wondered if he did this every night, she didn't care. She wanted it to keep happening. She felt the heat return as ash moved away from her. He climbed into his bag and began to snore softly. She turned over again and watched him for a moment. She closed her tear filled eyes and thought to herself as she drifted to sleep, 'ash, I already know and I love you too.' It was long and difficult two days for Ash, Misty and Brock. Ash and misty were wanting to tell each other how they felt but were to scared to say anything until the other one did. Brock was unfortunately caught in the middle and not able to say anything to his two friends. It was late in the day when they finally saw the edge of Rustboro. "I'm glad to be here." Misty said as they crossed into the city. "It'll be nice to have a long hot bath or shower." Ash smiled at her, "I'd like a rest too. Besides I'm not feeling well and my throat is all scratchy." "Then we should take a rest" Misty replied a bit concerned. "Especially if your not feeling well. What do you think brock?" "I agree." Brock said while checking the account book. "We should rest up so we are all in top form. And we have enough to stay in a hotel if we wanted to. In fact we can stay in a nice suite." "for how long?" Ash asked. "Through the start of the year and still have more than enough to get all out supplies for when we leave again." He replied back smiling. "Please as can we?" Misty asked hopefully. "Sure." Ash replied smiling and they headed to the nicest hotel in town. While getting there they noticed posters up all over for the concert coming up. It was going to popular if the concert was this well advertised. Ash was thinking deeply to himself as they came up to the hotels front desk. After a short time they had checked into a very luxurious suite. It had three bedrooms, three separate bathrooms and a specially designed pokemon bathroom. It was music to misty's ears. She wouldn't have to share a bathroom or bedroom with anyone. It also left them with far more money than was anticipated. The manager of the hotel had informed them of the discount offered to Pokemon trainers. Once he found out that all three were trainers he gave them an unprecedented triple discount. They had thanked the manager and headed for the elevators. They had passed another poster just before the elevators. "Ash that would be fun to go to." Misty mentioned as they passed the poster. "And it's that Chris LeDoux that you like." "Yeah it would be fun." He replied. "I'll check on tickets for it tomorrow." He finished with an unseen wink to brock. Brock picked up on the hint. "You can check on the ticket prices ash, but if they are too expensive we won't be able to go." He said quickly knowing what was in his pack, and the plan ash had. "All you can do is check the price and see after that. But I'd like to go somehow." Misty said a little dejectedly. Night came and it was spent just relaxing. For the most part the three stayed in their separate rooms. Even the best of friends need to have time alone and away from each other, and this was the perfect opportunity. It was mid-afternoon when ash finally made his way out of his room. "Ash are you okay?" Brock asked concerned. "Fine brock." Ash replied. "I just needed to sleep and I got plenty last night and this morning." Misty came out of her room to see ash. "Well pikachu we need to go check on those tickets. Then go and check out the gym here." He finished and stepped out the door. They were almost to the elevator and a ways from the room when pikachu spoke up. "Pika chu kachu chu pikapi?" "Well, I love misty." Ash started chuckling from his pokemon's question. "Just about as much as I love you. She has meant the world to me since she fished us out of the river back home. Like you, I don't know what I'd do without her." "Chu pika kachu chu?" Pikachu asked "No I don't think I'd die with out you or misty. But it would be a very lonely life with out either of you in it. It would hurt me more to loose you or misty. Maybe more than I can take." He replied softly as they neared the stadium ticket booth. "Pi Ka Chu." The mouse replied and hugged ash. "Can I help you?" the ticket man asked "Yes sir." Ash replied. "How much are the tickets for the Chris LeDoux concert?" "Front floor seats are eighty dollars as well as the bowl sections on each side of the stage. Middle bowl seats and middle floor are sixty dollars and the extreme floor, bowl and all upper bowl are fifty." He replied dryly. "Thank you sir." Ash replied a bit shocked that the tickets were that much, even for the cheap ones. As ash headed for the gym he called brock and let him know of the prices and he said he would break the news to misty. Ash thanked him and disconnected the call just as he neared the gym. Ash sat and watched the battles for a couple of hours, and learned a lot. He was looking through his pokedex while leaving the gym. "Looks like I have just the line up pikachu." "Ka." The mouse replied as ash looked up and saw misty leaving the Devon Corporation's Store. "Hey Mist!" Ash yelled and hurried to catch up. Misty looked up and blushed deeply like a kid caught with its hand in the cookie jar. "Oh hi Ash." She said. "What are you up to?" "Just coming from the gym. Learned a lot and I have the perfect line up for the battle. But it can wait. What were you doing?" "Picking up some Christmas presents." Se replied while stuffing items in to her bag. "Cool. I did check on the tickets and brock did agree they were too expensive." Ash said solemnly. "I know you wanted to go..." "I understand." Misty replied a little dejectedly. "We'll just do something that we can afford." Hey don't get down. You'll never know what will happen." Ash said. "Pi. Kaa." Pikachu replied as well. "Thanks you two." She responded. "Shall we head back for supper?" Ash nodded his response and they started back. They talked the whole way back to the hotel. Stopping to look into shop windows and even heading into a few. It was heaven for misty because they never once gotten into and argument. She loved it. It was several hours later they were nearing their hotel room and could smell brock fixing supper. They all sat down and enjoyed the evening. A little while later ash said his goodnights and went to bed. He didn't go to sleep right away. Ash lay there and thought about tomorrow and the coming week. He had the ultimate Christmas present for misty, thanks to a ton of help from brock. But how to keep her busy for the next week? He decided to talk to brock about it tomorrow night and drifted off to sleep, knowing that it was a big day tomorrow. He knew the 17th was the make or break day. Misty lay awake for a long time as well. She sat there debating her options, and what to do. She admitted to herself, she was scared. She didn't want to leave Ash nor brock. But her sisters were finally ready to become proper trainers and gym leaders by traveling like she has been. They wanted an answer from her by the end of the month. She looked at the ring she had bought ash for Christmas, a yellow diamond pikachu with small ruby chips for the spots on the face. A custom order that she had to pay for a long time. But she was able to pick it up at Devon today. She decided to tell Ash how she felt about him on Christmas and based off his reactions, she would decide what to do. With that plan in mind, she drifted off to a dream filled sleep. Early the next morning the alarm clock was going off but ash was not getting up. Pikachu finally had enough and woke ash up the old fashioned way, with a well placed thunder bolt attack. "Chu.." Pikachu said as ash laid there smoldering. "Okay, okay." Ash said "I'll get up with the alarm from now on." "Chu pikachu." The rodent replied and scampered off into the specially designed pokemon bathroom. Ash merely shook his head and walked into his bathroom. Ash was walking out of the lobby a short time later with pikachu on his shoulder. They stopped at a fast food place and picked up breakfast. He ate as they headed for the concert arena. He found the equipment entrance. There were and lot of diesels lined up and three very nice buses. No one was around so he found a place to sit next to the entrance and pulled the backstage pass from his bag. It was labeled the 17th - the 24th and placed it around his neck. He was glad that he did because a few minutes later a burly looking security guard walked by and saw him. "What are you doing back here?" He asked. "No one is allowed back here but crew and artists" Ash didn't argue, but simply showed him the pass. It surprised the guard but he checked the number against a list that he had. "Name?" He asked roughly. "Ash Ketchum." Ash replied. Then spelling his last name for the guard. "K.E.T.C.H.U.M." "Okay your cleared." The guard said in a softer tone. "now that I know who you are I won't bother you again. Here a bit early aren't ya?" "Yeah but I have no choice. It was come early or face a ton of questions I can't answer. Ash said back. "Well Good luck and have fun." With that the guard moved off. The crew slowly started to arrive and began to move equipment in to the arena. They didn't pay much attention to ash at all but he was amazed at the amount of equipment that was being moved. Ash figured they were about a third of the way done with the fist semi when he heard voices coming from the area around the buses. Mostly good mornings and good natured bantering. Ash decided to see who it may be, got up stretched, and began walking over. As he neared he overheard them talking about this ash kid, who he was, and if they would see brock later on. Ash thought it would be now or never and turned the corner. "Excuse me." Ash said. "Can we help you? Looking for the rodies foreman?" "Yes you can help me." Ash began. "No I'm not looking for the rodies foreman. I'm looking for Chris LeDoux." Chris could hear the exchange from inside his bus. "And you are?" One of the band members asked. "Ash Ketchum. Brocks friend." He replied back in kind. Chris was shocked that this was the kid he was helping. 'Can he sing?' was the question that drifted through his mind and the band asked it for him. "Can ya sing?" another member of the band asked in disbelief. Ash shook his head. He knew this was going to happen so he was ready for it. He cleared his throat and began to sing the song he had worked so hard to prepare. Ash's voice rang out clear and sharp. Much to the amazement of the band and to Chris inside the bus. He could sing and well. Just as ash finished the song, Chris stepped out of the bus. "Well ash. Brock said that you would work on it. But he didn't say you'd be great at it. I'm impressed." Chris said. "Where is Brock?" "Still at the hotel. I left early to avoid a lot of questions I wouldn't be able to answer." Ash replied. "I see. So brock didn't tell you about being here at this afternoon?" he asked. "No sir." Ash replied laughingly. "Well no time like the present. They should have the practice area set up by now. Lets get started." Chris recommended. With murmurs of consent everyone moved into the arena and to a small practice area set up with instruments and all sort of electrical items associated with a professional country band. The next few hours flew by for ash. The band practiced and he sat in with them just about every half hour. He found that music came very naturally to him and had very little difficulty staying in time with the band and Chris. They broke for lunch and Chris treated them all to a delicious barbeque. Shortly after 1pm brock arrived and looked guilty. Brock was also amazed at the voice ash carried on him. It was nearing dusk and the band called it a night. Ash's throat was rough and raw from all the singing, but he also knew it would be ready for the 24th. It continued on for the rest of the week. Ash always showed up and practiced all day with the band. The concert itself was a few hours long and it was decided that they would end the show with the duet. Little did ash know that it was going to be a solo act shortly after the song was started. It was late on the 22nd, and the band was finishing the last set. "Okay it sounds great." Chris said. "We have all the levels set, and all is left is the preconcert sound check. That is preformed by the sound crew on their own. We can take tomorrow off and enjoy the day." "That's good to hear. I Can be ready for the 24th." Ash replied "Ash your ready to tour with us." Chris replied laughingly and the band agreed whole heartedly. " I had no idea you have a voice like you do. Raspy sounding normally but clear as a bell when you sing. And you've never had singing lessons?" "None at all. All the singing I have done has been with my cd's" Ash replied in a stunned voice. "Well keep at it. Cause if Being a pokemon trainer doesn't work out. Well you can sing your way to fame." He stated happily. Ash and brock said their goodbyes and headed for the hotel. Ash stopped at one of the many stores and let brock know he was going to pick up Christmas and would be very late. He also asked brock to put two of the tickets and one backstage pass in his room after misty went to bed. Brock said he would and kept on to the hotel.It took ash a long time to pick up everything he needed. Cards and gifts for brock, his mom and professor oak. But the majority of them were for misty. He decided he was going all out this year on her. As he walked back to the hotel he noticed a glimmer from store window. When he looked at it he found a beautiful starmie pendant that was just in his price range of what he had left. He rushed in and bought it. He knew exactly when he'd give it to misty. Right after the duet. Ash walked into the hotel and found everyone asleep this worked to ash's advantage and he began to set up his holiday plan. Misty woke the next morning to a very large bow on her bed, with a card attached. She smiled an knew at once who it was from. She bound out of bed, past brock and to ash's room only to find he wasn't there. It saddened her. She went back to her room and prepared for the day. She was sitting on her bed and finally decided to read the card. 'Misty, we are playing a holiday game this year. Each card will lead you to a new location in town, and maybe out of it, and to another piece of your Christmas gift. I hope you enjoy it. Ash' She looked at the bow and found another small card with a beautiful earring attached. She took it off and read the instructions. "Brock?" She started as she left her room. "I already know." He replied. "Good luck." She shook her head and made for the elevator, while brock chuckled behind her. Once in the elevator she put on the earring and thought to herself it had better be worth it all. Ash was positioned in the lobby of the hotel and saw misty leave. He smiled wide and raced back up stairs to their room to wait. He knew it would be several hours before she returned and brock had already made plans with Melanie since she arrived into town earlier that week. At the next location Misty found the match to the earrings and the next note. It was frustrating to her to get her gifts this way but at the same time she was enjoying it. She was seeing all the places she was wanting to see and have time to look at them in depth before moving on. Rustboro was a beautiful city if you knew where to look. She wondered how ash had found all these places. Then she thought back to all the time he had spent away the last week and figured he was out scouting the area. It was nearing dark when she arrived at the fountain in the middle of town. She found a bow there and the last piece of her presents. It was a cowboy hat that matched all the other gifts she had found. The note this time was simple and to the point. It read 'Return Home'. She interpreted that as to return to the hotel which she did at a break neck speed. She arrived out of breath but smiling. Ash was there, this time with a bow on himself, and he was smiling. "Ash why did you?" She started once she had her breath, but ash spoke softly. "Mist I have one of your final three gifts. The others you will receive tomorrow. And this one will explain all of the others you have received so far." With a look that said he was crazy she took the last bow and gift off of him. It was a simple envelope. Shaking her head she opened it and shook out its contents. Into her hand fell a ticket, front row center and a backstage pass to the concert. Misty's jaw fell open and she teared up quickly in shock. "How did you get them ash?" she asked. "I mean they are very expensive cause I checked on them too." "Does it matter how they were gotten? Other than they were. And they are real." He replied. "All that matters to me is that we are going together." With that he held up the match to the pair. The dates on the pass were hidden by the other ticket in his hand. She promptly gathered ash into a huge hug. Deep down she knew he really did care and it made tomorrow a whole lot easier for her. For ash it was a different story. He was scared to death about what may happen tomorrow night. December 24th came and it was a great Christmas for all. Brock had managed to secure tickets for everyone including ash's mom, professor oak, and misty's sisters. The biggest plus was they all were able to get rooms in the hotel, even though they booked up shortly after they arrived. Misty was in a state of excitement all day. She took money that her sisters had given her and treated herself to a day in the spa. Delia, ash's mom, joined her and they enjoyed themselves. Misty's sisters hit the stores to finish picking up their gifts and a few items for themselves. Brock, ash and professor oak headed to the Devon Corporation to see the pokemon gear that was coming out. Professor oak picked up a pokenav for ash. Ash thanked him but really didn't say much of anything all day. Though brock had explained why it was unnerving to Delia to keep the secret. Shortly after ash and his friends arrived back to the hotel, Misty and Delia came in. Misty was stunning and she wasn't even fully ready for the concert yet. Ash approved greatly and came to be more at ease with tonight. A short time later everyone excused themselves to get ready for the concert. Ash had double duty. He put on the pants and boots that matched the outfits for Chris's band Western Underground. He had a shirt taylored for him that matched Chris's, but he put on a second shirt to hide it. He'd pull the top one off while getting onto the stage with misty. The hat he wore also matched the bands. It was the shirt that would set him apart. A short time later Ash, Misty and Brock separated themselves from the rest of the group and headed for the backstage entrance, while the others found their seats. The talk was all about ash and misty. "I can't believe my boy is going to be in the concert." Delia stated excitedly. "I didn't even know he could sing." "Like for sure." Lily piped up. "Misty can, like, sing extremely well. But ash is unbelievable." "I know what you mean." Professor Oak said. "I wonder how misty is going to react?" "I have no idea." Violet intoned. "But if it turns out like I think it is. Our gym is going to one of the seconds." The other sisters nodded in agreement. They were very happy for their little sister. Backstage Misty was awe struck, and ash was being a complete gentleman by indulging her. They met Chris and his band. They seemed to recognize ash but misty didn't catch on to it. It was nearing concert time when an assistant came up to them. "Folks the concert is about to begin. I can show you a quick way to your seats." The three followed them the assistant out and to the front row seats. They thanked the assistant and misty began telling everyone about being backstage. "Great its about to start." Ash said loudly as the lights dimmed. The crowd started to cheer as Western Underground came out on stage. The start to a song began as they took their positions. "How ya'll doin?" Chris called to the audience as he came up on stage. The crowd screamed and it was deafening. "Great to hear it. How about we start this with a little Rock and Roll" The scream was again loud as the band started into Little Long Haired Outlaw. The excitement was electric and it stayed that way even through the slow songs. Ash had been preparing for the moment to come and it was coming fast. The concert he noted was going a little longer than expected. But he didn't care, it was fun for all. Ash noticed a security man place his hand on the divider infront of himself and Misty. That was his que. Ash quickly unbuttoned his shirt and peeled it off revealing the second shirt underneath. He placed the special plugs in his ears and got misty's attention. She turned with a puzzled look because he had a different shirt on. He handed her a pair of plugs and motioned for her to put them in. She did so but it was puzzling. The crowd noise decreased and she could hear the music much more clearly and Chris on stage. "Well folks we are down to the last song." Chris said and a dull groan went through the crowd. "We are doing things slightly different this time around." The divider in front of Ash was pulled back to admit him. He grabbed misty and pulled her towards the stage. She resisted a little but then put it all together in her head and went with him. "Instead of leaving you with a wild and wooly song, we are going to slow it down." The crowd cheered. Ash was ready to take misty on the stage when he was handed a mike headset. "Glad you approve. The other thing that is different is that this last song is going to be a duet. I don't do them often, and usually with another established artist. But tonight I'm going to do it with a new face to music. Let me introduce you to a pokemon trainer with an awesome voice. Lets give a warm welcome to Ash Ketchum." The crowd erupted as ash pulled misty onto the stage. A chair appeared and ash motioned for misty to sit down. She did so nervously. "Now there is only one way to say this Misty. I've found that doing something crazy is the best for me. So here it goes." Ash said to her and the audience. She noticed the crowd quieted down a lot. Like they could feel that this was something special. He turned briefly to Chris, nodded, then kneeled down beside her with her hand in his. The music started and it was slow. Emotion filled ash's eyes as he began to sing. ~ ~ ~ ~ Just look at you girl Standing here beside me Starlight on your hair Looking like a dream I dreamed somewhere And look at me girl You got me acting just like a lover In an old time picture show And how I got the part I just don't know But its written all across your face Plain as it can be You're the one that I was looking for Now you're all that I can see You mean everything to me And I'd do anything to have you stay forever I'm an ordinary man But I feel like I could do anything in the world When I look at you girl Just look at you girl Walking here beside me Misty morning light I see my own reflection in your eyes And just smile at me girl With eyes that tell a story That words can never say Telling me your love is gonna stay And we're standing right together now In everything we do And if my world should come apart I'll still be loving you You mean everything to me And I'd do anything to have you stay forever I'm an ordinary man But I feel like I could do anything in the world When I look at you girl ~ ~ ~ ~ During the song Misty had noticed that Chris had stopped singing a few words into the song. Knowing it was just ash singing made the song that much more special to her. The song was finishing and ash said the words she had hoped to hear from him for years. "I love you misty." She gathered him up into a huge hug, and kissed him lightly on the cheek. She looked into his eyes and replied back softly. "I love you too ash." The mike ash was wearing was still live and picked up the exchange loud and clear. The audience exploded into cheers and applause. Misty blushed when she realized what had happened and Ash waved his hand to the crowd. "Well I can't think of a better way to end a show." Chris said and the fans agreed. "Except for this. Ash I completely stopped singing only a few words into the song. It was all you, and you're a hell of a singer. And they all loved it. Thanks Rustboro. Well see ya again soon." Ash was in shock as they exited the stage. Misty found a semi private corner and everyone stayed away for a while. Ash looked at misty and found she was crying and smiling bigger than he had ever seen. He reached up and softly wiped away tears. He pulled a small handkerchief from his pocket and kept her mascara from running down her cheeks. "Misty I love you." He stated softly. "Ash I love you too. I have since the first day, the day I fished you and pikachu out of the river. I thought that you were just another beginner trainer, but when I saw the concern you had for pikachu, I knew you were special. The bike gave me a reason to follow you. But deep down I was following you for another reason. All the arguments were a cover for how I felt. Now I know you felt the same way too." She said and broke down and cried. Ash took her in his arms and let her cry. Once she composed herself she continued. "My sisters called me at the start of the month. They wanted me to come home and watch over the gym while they go out and become better trainers." A chill went down ash's spine. Was it all for nothing he thought. Misty picked up on it immediately. "I haven't answered them yet. I was going to after tonight." She pulled the ring she bought for him and he opened the box. His eyes widened and he flashed his huge grin. She placed the ring gently on his finger and it fit perfectly. "I was going to tell you how I felt tonight too ash. I was going to base my decision on how you reacted to what I said. But the gym is going to a second. Because I'm not ever leaving you." Ash couldn't say anything. For once in his life he was speechless. But he pulled his last gift out and handed it to misty. She gasped at the last gift. But it would never compare to the gift she had received moments earlier, ash's heart. He helped her put on the pendant and whispered in her ear. "I love you." Misty turned and they kissed softly, deeply before a sound broke them apart. "Ya know I've been called out for an encore before. But never in all my years of performing have I seen an audience not want an encore from me, but from someone I have debuted." Chris said with surprise in his voice. "What?" Said a surprised Ash. "My god. Ash they are calling for you. Listen." Misty said. Ash listened and they were wanting him to come back out. He could also hear a chant of Chris too, but they were calling for him the most. "Misty I need to steal your new man for a few minutes." Chris said and placed a gentle but firm hand onto ash's shoulder. "Go ahead. I'll be waiting right here." She said as ash was pulled away. Ash kissed her and went on stage, where the crowd erupted to see them back out there. As always Misty stood off to the side supporting him as she had from day one. She would be there from now on, no matter what happened.