Mending Broken Hearts - Pokeshipping

I was the Last to Know

Part One – A Hurt Heart

I was the Last to Know

A youth with brown eyes, raven black hair, and a signature Pokémon league cap smiled as he approached a cliff overlooking a quaint little town coastal town filled with cropped farm lands, It was made mostly of white wooden cottages, a small town square with shopping amenities. The town in question was also home to a small ocean wharf, and it was also home to the Kanto region's famous Professor Samuel Oak. But for the boy the place was simply... home sweet home.

"Look Pikachu," the youth said fondly, "I see Pallet Town."

"Pika chu," chirped his Pokémon.

"Seems like we've been gone for a long time, huh? Doesn't look like much has changed," he said, and began the walk down the path towards his home.

Ash Ketchum couldn't help but be ecstatic at finally reaching Pallet Town once again. He was back from the Hoenn region where he had met new friends and caught new Pokémon, the experience was one he would not soon forget. But during all that time, Ash's thoughts tended to drift to someone...

"Pika, Pikapi, Pika chu chu pika pika chu pika cha pika Pikachupi?" Hey, Ash, when are you planning to go see Misty?

"Um... after we see Mom and the other Pokémon back at the lab, buddy," Ash muttered, blushing at her name. "Don't get me wrong – I really, really would like to go see her as soon as possible. But I promised Mom and Professor Oak we'd come home straight away, no detours."

"Pika pika chu cha pika, Pikapi." And yet you took one at a gym, Ash.

"Well," Ash mumbled, "how could I have turned down a battle against Agatha, a member of the Elite Four...?" Pikachu just rolled his eyes.

"Pikachupi pika pik pikachu pipika, Pikapi." Misty would call you inattentive then, Ash.

"Yeah... she probably would say that."

It wasn't a secret, ever since that fateful sad afternoon about a year ago; Ash had never been the same. Sure he functioned well enough with Brock and Pikachu still by his side, but without Misty around to argue with, share jabs, or simply pass the time with – either stargazing or eating ice cream together. Ash felt incomplete, he felt like a part of him had been taken away, and he had had quite a bit of time to think about why. At first he thought the melancholy would pass but it didn't, instead it sent him into strange dreams and visions. He dared to blame it on a crush, which even now he had a hard time admitting to, purely out of pride.

He knew something was wrong when his heard felt somber when they left each other, the awkwardness continued when her image stayed in his mind throughout his Hoenn journey. He had to tell her how he felt, and if she didn't feel the same, well... he'd rather not think about it, because the very idea upset him more than he wanted to admit...

"Hey, anybody home?" Ash called, as he finally entered through his home's front door.

"I'll be right down, honey!" his mom's voice called melodiously. Ash was pleased to hear his mom's voice in person once again. But as he closed the door, another female voice called to him...

"Welcome home, Ash." And there she was – new yellow clothes and all, Misty Waterflower. "It's been a long time, huh? Hi there, Pikachu."

"Y-yeah, uh, hi," Ash stammered, stunned. WHAT WAS SHE DOING AT HIS HOUSE?! Was the first thought that came to him.

"Pikachupi!" Pikachu meanwhile cried out happily.

"This is a surprise, Misty," Ash murmured. The situation was extremely left field, he had been planning to see her after this, but it seemed she came to him. Is... Is this a sign?