A True Christmas Present Part 1 By zapdos1alpha Zapdos1alpha@hotmail.com AAMRN Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, its characters or any of that. Gamefreak, Nintendo, and 4Kids Entertainment does. Only characters I own are Anonoa, Lailiani, Sharron, Marcella, and Melanie Ash – 24 Marcella – 25 Brock – 30 Misty – 24 Sharron – 25 Melanie – 25 Pikachu - ? Bulbasaur - ? Cassy(vulpix) - ? Anonoa - ? Lailiani - ? Delia - ? 50 something Note: anything italicized it is the character thinking to themselves ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I'm tired, tired of battling, tired of appearances, just tired all around "Pi Pika pi pikachu?" Pikachu asked of his master "No pikachu. I'm not this time. I'm not okay at all" Ash replied to his long time pokemon friend. "Pikapi pikachu?" he responded "Yes I'm thinking of her, and of my life as it is right now. After ten years of being a pokemon master and league champion its time to settle down. Maybe have another adventure just us this time cause after what happened last year she would never agree to come this time." Ash said to him. "It won't be a happy retirement though." Ash gave one last look at the azure sky on this cold winters morning before turning to go back in side. He couldn't help but still wonder what may have been. During any normal time you can find Ash working through his normal day. Training and taking care of league business; making and keeping appointments for meetings and appearances. His aid Marcella was a big help but not enough at times. But unlike today ash didn't have hardly anything to do. A small appearance at the school in Pallet, ashes hometown, was all that he had to do today. Ash enjoyed this rare time. He usually would have spent it with his friends Brock and misty but they had grown apart over the last year. But more so after thanksgiving. All ash knew is that Brock and his wife Melanie were acting very strange this year. The only person who wasn't there was misty and this hurt ash more than anyone could realize. It has always been a standing invitation to have thanksgiving at his home since they first met fourteen years ago. The more he thought of his friends the more his thoughts kept turning to one red headed girl that he loved deeply yet he knew her response when he told her. That was enough to kill the spirit inside. "bulba saur saur bul bulbasaur" bulbasaur said after entering the room "Hello bulbasaur." Ash said smiling "Pika" he said greeting his old friend "bul bulba saur?" bulbasaur asked. Ash looking at his pokemon with disbelief, not knowing what to say finally responded to his question "Yes I do love her bulbasaur. But you heard her last year. She hates me." "bulabasaur" he replied and left to ashes amazement. "But I do know" he said softly and began to cry. "Mr. Ketchum?" Marcella buzzed over the intercom. "I have a very important package that just arrived for you. May I bring it up?" Ash cleared his throat before answering her "Yes Marcella. I'm in the east wing study." He responded. As Marcella left her desk she knew by the sound of his voice he had been crying. He seemed to do that more and more over the last year. She never said anything about it everyone was entitled to have their own problems, demons he called them. She knocked politely on the door and ash answered her knock with a yes. She entered and set the small package down on the table and turned to leave. "Thank you Marcella." Ash said politely. "Did the delivery person say who it was from?" "No sir. Just said the delivery was very important and urgently time sensitive" she responded back. "Thank you again." He replied and looked at the package puzzled. He did notice that the package was slightly larger than a pokeball. Being league champion so long you make enemies and ash had his fair share of disturbing packages. He continued to study the package closely. Not seeing anything himself he decided to check it another way. "Cassy can you come in here please" Ash yelled. "Vul" Cassy said as she entered "Cassy I need your sense of smell." Ash told her as he set the package in front of her "Sniff that. Do you smell anything wrong?" After a few sniffs "Vul" Cassy said while shaking her head no. "Thank you Cassy. You can go back to relaxing with the others." Ash replied smiling. So it's not dangerous. He thought while returning to his chair and eyeing the package cautiously ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Miles away in Cerulean City, Misty Waterflower was also reminiscing about the past. She had become the water pokemon master a couple of years after ash became champion. A buzz on her studies intercom pulled her back to the present, yet it was a few moments before she replied. "Yes" she said "Miss Waterflower. A package has arrived for you. Delivery person said it was important and time sensitive." Sharron, Mistys aid said. "Okay Sharron. Please bring it in. I'll look at it now." She replied and closed the connection. Misty was back in thought as Sharron brought in the package. She made note to ask her about it later and set the package down on the table. "Thank you, Sharron." Misty said to her as she left the room. Sharron nodded and left Misty alone. After looking at the package for a few moments she wasted no further time in opening the package. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Ash finally deciding to open the package himself had carefully taken the paper off. Taped to the box inside was a letter. In bright blue letters it said to read me first. With curiosity born of a pokemon master he opened the letter. ~ ~ ~ ~ Dear Mr. Ketchum, I suspect that you have held onto your gift for some time now. I also suspect that Pikachu is there ready to zap it if anything happens. Please allow me to assure you. The Package is not dangerous. I look forward to having you accept the offer inside. Sincerely, An Island Friend ~ ~ ~ ~ "No signature other than and island friend." Ash stated, "This is very odd but it did say it was safe. But still be ready okay pikachu." "Pika!" he replied With a nod ash reached over and opened the box and inside was a very special GS pokeball. Looking in the box after extracting the pokeball a note simply read open me. Puzzled ash stood up intent on seeing what was inside the ball with the scanner Professor Oak gave him. Again his adventuring spirit took over and he headed straight for the training facility. "GS Ball Go!" Ash said firmly and throwing the ball. His pokemon were watching with interest this ball meant something to them all but what ash didn't know. For that moment the ball opened and a pokemon he had never seen appeared before him. It was the size of bulbasaur, with a striking blue/orange striped coat, and the face of a Celebi. What set this pokemon apart were the webbed feet it had. "Lailiani" it said. "Pika Pi" said staring at the new pokemon "Hmm, My thought exactly pikachu." Ash replied as he pulled out his pokedex "Name unknown" it began, "this pokemon is a highly uncommon fire/water type pokemon. It is strong against both types of attacks. Not much else is known about this pokemon except its location. It comes from the island state of Hawaii in the United States" "Hawaii/PIKAPI!" Ash and Pikachu exclaimed together. The small pokemon walked up to Ash. It was holding a letter in its paws. "Lai li iani li Lailiani" It said "Pikachu?" ash questioned. "Pika chu chu pipika pi" he replied (my master send you this envelope and me) "So you are to obey me?" Ash asked "Lai" the small pokemon answered and shook its head yes. Ash looked to pikachu in puzzlement and pikachu returned his look as ash took the second note from the pokemon. ~ ~ ~ ~ Mr. Ketchum It is good to see you have accepted my gift. I'm sure your pokedex stated not much is know. Please allow me to fill you in. Lailiani is a fire/water type pokemon. These creatures do not have a name of their own. So this means they will speak to you and acknowledge any name they are give. As you have heard I have named this on Lailiani. It lives in the volatile waters off the coast. I mean volatile because it is the water where the lava from our resident volcanoes meets. The waters in these locations are so hot that capturing one of these creatures is very special and rare occaision. This pokemon mates for life. Capturing them is easy. When one is caught the other one follows. Making its capture simple. I captured this lady a few days ago and give her to you as a gift. Her counterpart has been sent to another pokemon master. Now for the reason for the gift and mystery. These two must be rejoined. Unfortunately it has to be in a maximum of ten days from their separation. They were separated on December 16th. If my figures are correct it is now the 18th. This leaves you eight days to rejoin them before they find new mates. The two GS balls are programmed to release once they are within three feet of each other. You must come to Hawaii to release them back into the wild. If you keep them then you and the other trainer must stay together forever. Thank you, Your Island Friend P.S. These creatures are a sign of true, unwavering love in Hawaii. ~ ~ ~ ~ "Well pikachu. No signature again. Up for a trip to Hawaii?" Ash asked "PI KA CHU" he replied back happily. "Lailiani return." Ash said. "We have a lot to do." He said returning to his study. "Marcella, what does my schedule look like through the start of the year?" "Your free Mr. Ketchum. It is the holiday season." She replied "Good. Please call league HQ and see if the jet is being used. If not book it for tomorrow through the start of the year. Destination will be Hawaii." He said back "Will do sir." She said smiling looks like his plan will work. Ash left his study to pack for the journey. "Looks like retirement will have to wait a little longer." He said to no one but himself. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Back in Cerulean City, Misty had already packed and was ready to make her trip. Her luck was the plane was already booked. The league headquarters didn't say by whom though just its destination, Hawaii. Misty had received a GS ball as well. In side was Anonoa, Lailiani's counterpart. Misty looked at the small fire/water type pokemon and smiled. "Well find the other master who has your mate. I promise you that," she said. "Anonoa, Return" with a flash of blue light the pokemon returned to its ball. Now what would ash do? She didn't have long to think. Sharron chose that time to bring in a cup of tea to her boss. She seemed to know when misty needed to talk to someone. It wass then she asked the question "What were you thinking about earlier miss?" "Well some one has to know." Misty said sighing. "It might as well be you. Come sit down this will take a while" Taking the seat offered by her boss Sharron sat down while misty began "It all began fourteen years ago…" For the next few hours they talked. Mostly about the time misty had spent on her pokemon journey with Ash and Brock. She spoke of all the times they have shared how she would worry when things happened to ash and when he was no longer in danger the relief she felt. All of it leads up to thanksgiving of last year. * * * Flashback * * * "Ash, sweetie this is a wonderful dinner" Delia Ketchum stated "Well being with Brock so much I guess I picked up a few good cooking tips" ash replied handing the praise over to brock. "Thanks Ash." He said, "I'm just glad to have had our adventures together" "Me too." Misty spoke up. "It was fun and we all obtained our dreams. Ash is a pokemon master and league champion, Brock you've become the world's leading breeder, and I've become the water pokemon master." "Your right misty. We have accomplished our dreams. For that I'm thankful" Ash replied but he had one dream left to fill and tonight was the night he would do it. * * * Pause Flashback * * * "The dinner went well that night." Misty said then paused for a sip of tea "We all laughed and were excited to be around each other again. Even Pikachu gave us all a playful jolt for old times sake. It was late and everyone went to bed. Ash and I stayed up talking and that's when it went bad. Not his bad, mine." * * * Continue Flashback * * * "Misty, there is something that I need to tell you" Ash began. "Okay, Ash." Misty replied back. "Well. Do you remember the day we met?" he replied "Yes how can I forget fishing you out of the river." She said smiling. "Misty, I…" he said "…I have loved you from that first day. I have wanted to tell you so many times before now but have been afraid to until now. Misty I love you." She sat there in shock. Long ago she had determined that they would be life long friends and nothing more. Instead of happiness she should have felt for her dream coming true she felt hatred and anger for his cowardice up to now. She let her angered mind speak instead of her heart. "You love me…" she started "… You Love me. "Yes misty I do." He replied. This was not the reaction he had hoped for. "Oh Ash. You are a few years to late. You are a gutless wretch of a man. I at one time would have been overjoyed to hear those words from you. But not now. You have had more courage to face an opponent, or legendary pokemon than to face me and tell me that. You have constantly berated me and never helped me, or encouraged me to strive for better. I did it alone. I hate you Ash Ketchum," she said icily. With that she got up grabbed her coat and began the long drive home. Leaving Ash stunned and unable to move. * * * End Flashback * * * "It sounds like you still love him," Sharron ventured. "I do. But because of my shock, big mouth and idiot brain he got an entirely different message" she replied sadly. "Miss if I may be so bold. Maybe its time for you to take the first step and apologize to him. Once done sit down and talk to him, work it out." Sharron told misty. "But what if…" misty began and was cut off by Sharron. Something Sharron has never done. "You never know until you try" with that Sharron gathered her empty teacup and left misty alone to think. For the first time in a year misty felt better mentally. A bit of sparkle lit her eyes as she came up with a plan. She decided to get help with it and the only person that could was Brock. She picked up her phone and dialed his number in Pewter City. After a few moments Brocks wife Melanie answered. They spoke briefly. "No misty. Brock is not here right now. He has been gone for the last two weeks." "Oh, okay." Misty replied. "Any idea where he went?" "All he said was that he was going to the islands for a while and would be back home before Christmas." Melanie said. "Thank you Melanie. Have a wonderful Christmas" Misty responded and they ended the call. Strange brock would be going to "the islands". Putting this in the back of her mind misty retired to bed. It's going to be a long day. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Well that's it for part 1. I hope you liked it. This is my first fic. If you feel the need to flame me please be gentle. Any reviews can be sent to zapdos1alpha@hotmail.com Part 2 is on the way.