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Part Twenty One

1:53 a.m.

"I'll be back at two, I promise. There's something I need to tell you."

The words continue to play through Misty's mind. "There's something I need to tell you."

Is this it? Finally? After years of travelling, friendship, and training together. Is this happening?

She watches the clock on the wall and yawns. She sits on the uncomfortable chair next to the desk in her hotel room.

When she first fished Ash Ketchum out of the river outside of Viridian City, she never would have guessed that he'd become a Pokémon Master. She definitely didn't think she would be sitting here, more than a decade later, hoping that the reason he was coming to see her was to tell her he's in love with her - that he'd always been in love with her.

1:57 a.m.

Her nerves are frying. What other explanation could there be?

They'd just finished celebrating his victory in the league an hour ago and now he wants to tell her something! He had hinted months ago that there were other things on his mind. Was he going to share finally?

She'd been at his side the entire day. She had woken him up to make sure he had enough time to prepare for the battle of his life. They had eaten waffles for breakfast, trained, and then had lunch at the league's restaurant. She was on the sidelines when he and Pikachu took down Red's prized Charizard. She sat next to him at the celebration afterwards. They danced. Then he'd walked her home after the main party, told her to put on something comfortable, and promised to be back at 2.

2:08 a.m.

He's late. She yawns; it's certainly been a long day.

She closes her eyes for what feels like a second.

3:37 a.m.

She jumps when she hears knocking; she'd fallen asleep.

She rubs the sleep from her eyes.

Finally! He's going to get a mallet to the face for being an hour and a half late!

She races to the door and flings it open.

There stands Brock; dripping wet from the recently developing storms. He peeks into the room hesitantly while Misty watches curiously.

His fist raises in front of his lips and he coughs awkwardly, "is uh – are Ash and Pikachu here?"

She watches him in confusion and wonders what he's implying.

"No, he was supposed to be here at 2 a.m. though." She begins to worry. Ash was once an irresponsible kid, but he's grown up considerably in the last few years. He told her he'd be there at two; it's not like him to go back on his word.

"It's just that... he never returned to our room. It's not like him not to tell me what he's up to. I thought maybe you two..." Brock blushes and watches the gears turn in Misty's head. "You know..."

Her face flushes at the realization of what he's implying. Honestly, the idea was something that had crossed her mind.

She tries to focus on the problem. "No, he's not here."

"Misty, it's just not like Ash to disappear without telling anyone. He didn't even take his other Pokémon."

A knot of worry begins to tie itself tightly in her stomach. Even the Pokémon Master isn't invincible; especially with only one Pokémon: even if that Pokémon is the strongest Pikachu on the planet.