The Deep Things That Matter {On Hold}

Catastrophe (2nd link to Blinded)

Squeezing and unsqueezing her clammy hands, Misty waltzed down the stretched hotel hallway. Making her way to the elevators, Misty clicked the arrow pointing down, the button illuminating a red glow, signifying it had been pressed.

Sighing, Misty tilted her head back, waiting for the elevator to descend down to her floor so she could make it to the restaurant on time.

That night Misty's outfit consisted of short green shorts, her signature yellow top, and baby blue flip-flops. Her fiery red hair cascading down her back in long wavy curls. She didn't really see the need to wear anything all too flattering that night. Heck, she didn't even want to be going to this arrangement at all.

As time passed, Misty quickly began regretting her decision on agreeing to meet Ash for dinner. Though she would love to see her best friend again, Misty was not looking forward to meeting Ash's newest female traveling companion. Misty even began persuading herself to turn back to her room right now. If she had to eat dinner with Ash's new girl--friend, she rather just avoid this whole dinner fiasco all together.

Of course, Misty never had problems with Dawn or May when they confirmed that they, in fact, did not like Ash romantically. But, Misty had a gut feeling that this time would be different, and her gut was normally never wrong.

Finally, the sound of the elevator caught Misty's attention with a ding once it reached her floor, opening its doors in anticipation for a new passenger to enter. Misty peered inside, ensuring that nobody was going to step out of it. However, the only person coming into her view was a girl with shiny golden locks of hair and she was wearing a frilly pink dress with lengthy pink ribbons that swished around her face.

Nodding at the girl, Misty stepped into the elevator. Just when she was going to push the button for the Lobby, Misty realized it had already been pressed.

The atmosphere in the elevator immediately filled with tension and awkwardness as soon as the doors closed shut. The two girls staring around at the walls and floors but avoiding each other's gazes at all human costs.

Luckily, the elevator reached the lobby, and Misty briskly walked out, happy to no longer be feeling the crushing weight of the small enclosed space. Rounding another corner, Misty began searching for Ash amongst the jostle and bustling of the crowds around her. Fortunately for Misty, she didn't have to look very far when a pair of bright yellow ears stood above the people, twitching back in forth in hopes of finding somebody.

"Pikachupi!" The small mouse suddenly cried, bursting with delight once it caught sight of Misty. Leaping over people's heads and shoulders, (earning Ash multiple glares and complaints) Pikachu swiftly made it to his second favorite Pika Pal. Not knowing what had gotten into his small best friend, Ash booked after him.

"Aw, hi Pikachu!" Misty coed, hugging the adorable Pokémon close to her. The small Pokémon cha-ing in satisfaction as Misty continued to stroke it's favorite petting spots.

"Pikachu! What has gotten into you!?"Ash screamed, screeching to a halt when he saw what caused his Pokémon to go crazy, and the sight made him lose all oxygen he thought was still left in his lungs.

Ash did a quadruple take as he looked at the most angelic being he had ever seen.

She had brilliant red hair. It glistened in the dim lighting of the hotel's restaurant and curled around her face in loose waves, shining like amber silk. Her skin was fair and a creamy pale white. Though, it was her eyes were what really caught his attention, the Cerulean orbs shining bright with amusement.

He blinked, dumbfounded as to who he was looking at. Her gaze shooting into his heart like an arrow

Misty simply stared back at Ash as if he was the most astonishing and surprising thing in the world.

Ash's insides froze over, almost abruptly shutting down when he began weakly attempting to string words together into some form of intelligent sentences to say.

"Misty? Is that you?" he whispered hoarsely, all that he was able to muster out.

"Hello, Ash," his best friend of seven years replied sheepishly, turning away from his most treasured Pokémon. "Long time no see."

Instantly, the moment was shattered by a yell, the source of it eagerly weaving through the crowds. A clumsy blond boy following after her.

"There you are Ash!" Bonnie said frantically, "I got worried when you ran off, so Clemont and I ran after you."

Bonnie's gaze then shifted over to Misty, a small devilish grin gracing the younger girls features as she began her scheming, all her ideas revolving around this new girl, her brother and wedding bells.

"Who is this?" Bonnie started, glancing up at Misty.

Ash sighed, acknowledging that the moment a few seconds ago was gone, he replied frustrated, "Bonnie, this is Misty. She's the one I told you we were meeting tonight. She's also the Cerulean City Gym leader."

"Oh my god! You hear that Clemont!? Misty is a gym leader just like you!" Bonnie swiftly turned back towards Misty. "Do you think you'll ever marry my brother?" She asked innocently.

On impulse, this time breaking the status quo, both Ash and Clemont hastily shouted, "No!" Clemont peered over at Ash, a bewildered expression on his face.

"Uh-umm I mean-" Thankfully Ash's stuttering was put back on hold, a new voice joining in on the conversation. "Hey guys, I've been looking for you everywhere!" Serena barged in.

"Hey Serena, do you think Misty would make a good wife for my brother?"

Serena glanced up at the girl Bonnie was referring to, instantly recognizing Misty she yelped, "you're the girl who I was in the elevator with!"

Misty gritted her teeth, forcing a weak smile to get on her face so it could take place of the scowl beginning to form. Misty already had a bad feeling about tonight, and this Serena girl was no assurance.

"Hello, I'm Misty," Misty forced, outstretching her hand to the glitzy and overdressed girl.

Without batting an eyelash, Serena didn't even acknowledge Misty's small peace offering of a gesture and instead spun her heels right back to Ash.

"So, Ash where is your best friend?" Serena giggled.

"Umm, Serena this is Misty." Ash darkly replied, instantly noticing the cold shoulder Serena was giving to Misty.

"Oh. I thought your friend was a boy. From your stories, it certainly sounded like you were talking about one." Serena gushed, her voice high pitched and overly flirtatious.

Misty held down her boiling anger, don't lose your temper, she chastised herself, let's not make enemies with Ash's traveling companions.

From the corner of Misty's eye, she saw Ash begin to open his mouth, but Serena cut him off.

"So Misty, how long have you and Ash known each other? Can't be that long if his stories don't exactly clarify your gender all that well." Serena taunted.

Screw this, Misty thought bitterly.

"We've known each other for seven years," Ash stepped in for Misty's defense. Misty smiled in spite of herself at the kind gesture.

"Hmm. Guess I missed that," Serena mumbled, retreating away from the group to one of the table booths. Stomping her pink heels into the floor a little too violently Bonnie and Clemont shrugged, following after her.

"Tonight's gonna be a catastrophe," Misty groaned to herself.