Pokemon: Next Generation

Chapter 35: The Gears Are Turning

Chapter 35: The Gears Are Turning

As I rounded the corner, I bumped into someone.

"For the last time Daniel, can you please be louder when you-" I noticed the shape of the person was much different as I took a step back and evaluated the much skinnier, young version of my dad. "Oh. Sorry Ash."

"What's going on with Misty?" he asked seriously, locking eyes with me. It was the first time I'd seen him so concerned about a person since we got here. Life threatening situations didn't count. Either way, his determination reminded me of his older self.

I tried to come up with something and decided as close to the truth was best. "Well, Daniel did a pretend fortune telling thing earlier today and she got really stressed about the future. So she's been thinking about it a lot and since we're all wrapped up in time travel stuff, it's really been on her mind."

He stared at me. "You're the ones from the future, aren't you?"

"What?" The word escaped my mouth in shock.

"How would you know what time Celebi took these friends you told me about to? They'd find a way back before you'd have to leave to get them. Right to the present time they left so you'd know they were ok," Ash said. "It's you and your friends that really time traveled."

"Are you mad?" I practically peeped out, like every single time I felt like I was going to get in real trouble by him.

"I don't get why you would lie. So yeah, I'm mad." His hand tightened into a fist by his side, "We're flying all the way to Ilex Forest for you and you've been lying about who you are this whole time. My last time traveling friend lied. And you knew about it... So who are you?"

I took a shaky breath. This couldn't have been happening. It really couldn't. I couldn't tell my dad that I was his child. He was a kid still. My mom bearing it was hard enough. I knew this would warp the time stream past recognition and I most likely wouldn't exist.

Before I could say anything, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry about who she is, Ash."

"But..."

"Don't worry about it. I trust her," she said gently.

Ash's eyebrows furrowed as he tried to figure out why she would side with me when she had just stormed off in a Dragon Rage. His never wavering morals battled against his trust. His fist slackened. "Fine."

Ash continued down the hall. Misty's hand fell off my shoulder.

"You stood up for me," I said, still not believing it.

"He can't find out." She wouldn't look at me.

"Thank you." I whispered.

Misty's blue eyes met mine. Moisture framed them delicately. "Don't think that makes anything different between us."

"I know," I said, though there had been a flicker of hope that everything was fine now.

"Be as truthful as possible with him," she warned. "But don't ever tell him that."

"I promise I will be. And I won't."

Misty hurried towards our room. I took a deep breath, pressing my back against the wall.

"Em."

I looked up to see Daniel's concerned eyes, too distracted by the roller coaster of emotion I was on to be scared by his unexpected appearance.

I sighed, in relief instead of annoyance for once. "For the last time, can you please be louder when you approach me?"

"Let's take a walk so I can be loud then."