Saving Shard

Chapter 1

Ten years later . . .

On this day the paparazzi became a crazed pack of Houndour. Cameras snapped like rabid jaws. Microphones jutted outward like claws. Reporters yowled questions with ravenous urgency – starving for just a picture, just a tidbit of information! The media was consumed within a frantic whirlwind of excitement. But who could really blame them? After all, it wasn't every day that the Pokemon Master became engaged to be married.

Even as the media swallowed her whole, the smile was not once deterred from Misty Waterflower's lips. She giggled cheerfully as her fiancé, Master Ash Ketchum, led her through the labyrinth of reporters.

Representatives were present from every major television network, magazine, newspaper and online gossip site. The media was insatiable for details: How did Ash propose? Where did he get that big diamond ring? How much did it cost? When was the wedding? Who would be invited? What would Misty wear? The bombardment of questions was incessant. Misty did not have any answers for them either, Ash had only proposed to her twenty minutes before! In fact, the two of them were just now leaving the restaurant where Ash had popped the question. Misty wondered how the reporters even knew about the engagement already? Misty suspected that their waiter had tipped the media off. There was no other way that the paparazzi would have had the foresight to be waiting outside.

Usually reporters irked Misty, they were constantly stalking her famous boyfriend – correction – fiancé. But not today. Today Misty was far too gleeful to play Whack the Microphone. She was actually enjoying the attention upon her beautiful ring and, she truly wanted the world to know that she was the future Mrs. Pokemon Master!

Ash and Misty had only been dating for three months. Despite this short period his proposal was not a surprise to her. Although Misty was now twenty-five years old, she and Ash had loved one another since they were children. They didn't need a long-term relationship to know that they wanted to spend their lives together. If anything, this engagement was overdue. Simply put: the pair blamed life for keeping them apart. Career changes, other relationships, family problems, and their own confessional nerves. All of these things added up to their delay in getting together. But none of those factors mattered any more. What mattered was that they were together now.

Ash laced his fingers with Misty's, continuing to guide her through the dizzying camera flashes. He offered her a lopsided smile. He had been Pokemon Master for a year now, but still was not accustomed to such tremendous attention. However, Misty knew that Ash loved it! He had always thrived within the spotlight. He had always yearned for glory with his Pokemon at his side. Now he and Pikachu were international celebrities. Ash had made his dream come true, and Misty couldn't be prouder.

Ash teasingly tossed a few scraps of information to the crowd. He thanked the media for their interest, never once cursing them for prying. Misty played her part, holding her left hand high so that every camera had a fair chance of photographing the ring. Becoming the Pokemon Master's wife would be a mixed blessing, Misty knew, but she loved Ash enough to endure these media- Houndours.

Ash told one reporter that he 'had proposed prior to their romantic dinner'. Misty told another that Ash 'had placed the ring within a diamond encrusted Pokeball'. But neither Ash or Misty relayed the details of his passionate proposal . . . his speech . . . those words were for their private memories only.

Ash had taken Misty's hand in his and, as their eyes melted together, he began to confess all the feelings he had harbored for her. He told Misty that he loved her. That she had been 'the one' since she'd fished him out of that river. They shared a laugh remembering the bicycle that was destroyed, and Misty pointed out that he'd still not repaid that debt. Ash winked, promising that he was about to give her something better . . .